MAURI ORA, W8Ya hJ: Db-Uli

REVIEW

The of New Zealand, by Richard J. Rowe

Auckland University Press, Auckland, 1987. 260pp. $39.95

Richard Rowe has a passion for dragonflies and the production of this book has been a labour of love. The result is the definitive work on the of New Zealand. A natural historian by inclination, Rowe demonstrates here what a fine and patient observer of nature he is. From an early age he had the presence of mind to record his observations on index cards, and it is this information which provides much of the detailed fabric of the present volume.

"The Dragonflies of New Zealand" considers all species on the three main islands and also the Kermadecs, the Chathams and the sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand. An historical introduction to studies on New Zealand Odonata includes a short section on Maori knowledge of natural history, and is followed by a general account of dragonfly biology by Philip S. Corbet. In no small way, Professor Corbet was responsible for encouraging the author to develop his scientific studies of Odonata, and indeed the writing of this book, and his contribution can be seen as entirely appropriate. Rowe then discusses the biogeography of the New Zealand fauna and sensory perception in dragonflies. He identifies three biogeographic groups; endemic genera, endemic species in genera found also in Australia, species held in common with Australia, and colonists since the turn of the present century. New Zealand's peculiarly limited dragonfly fauna has been a puzzle to zoogeographers, but the author thinks that it can be explained by massive changes in habitat availability during the late Miocene and Pliocene, and the more recent reductions in habitat through glaciation. With respect to sensory capacity, dragonfly adults rely heavily on vision, but in their early instars, larvae are most responsive to tactile stimuli, and to a lesser extent vibrations. Also, they may have a sense of taste whereas visual acuity develops only gradually as complex, compound eyes enlarge. Rowe does not discuss learning in dragonflies but I am aware that a "pet" Hemianax larva displayed imprinting-like behaviour towards the author in the manner of Lorenz's geese!

The major part of this book is given over to detailed accounts of the 17 New Zealand species which belong to 12 genera and 6 families. One, Xanthocnemis sinclairi a which is known only from the alpine headwaters of the Rakaia is described for the first time and named after Andrew Sinclair who jn 1841-42 was the first European to collect dragonflies from New Zealand. Descriptions of life history stages are given as well as accounts of natural history and behavioural ecology. These vary in completeness depending on availability of information which correlates closely with the relative commonness of the species. Thus, the common redcoat, Xanthocnemis zealandica warrants 18 pages whereas the red glider, Tramea transmarina gets less than four. The New Zealand odonates range in size from the coenagrionid, Ischnura aurora (body length as little as 22 mm),to the primitive petalurids (body length up to 86 mm). Like all dragonflies they are predatory, and most take in flight, insects that include German wasps (in the case of carovei) which in turn can prey on dragonflies! The account of Antipodochlora braueri is provided by Bill Winstanley, who studied this stream-dwelling corduliid in the 1970s at Victoria University. 96 MAURI ORA> 1987y Vol. 14

All species accounts, and in fact all chapters are thoroughly annotated, and references and notes are listed at the end of every section. "The Dragonflies of New Zealand" is profusely illustrated with distribution maps, diagrams and pictures of the . Most of the latter have been drawn splendidly by Karen Mason whose illustrations of insects will be familiar to readers of "New Zealand Pests", The Garden Pest Book" and "Freshwater Life". Sixteen pages of magnificent colour plates are another feature of the book and enable both dragonfly habitats and the Beauty of the animals to be appreciated.

The text is completed by two short chapters on studying, collecting, preserving, breeding and rearing dragonflies. There is an extensive bibliography, a comprehensive glossary, identificatory keys to larvae and adults and an index. The book is attractively designed and produced with a soft, glossy cover. I found few typographical errors and all told it is a credit to the publisher and author. This book is a valuable contribution to the entomological literature of New Zealand and deserves to be widely read.

Mike Winterbourn