Odonata of Victoria

DragonfliesDragonflies andand DamselfliesDamselflies ofof VictoriaVictoria andand TasmaniaTasmania Reiner Richter & Ian Endersby First published by the Entomological Society of Victoria 2019 © Copyright 2019, Reiner Richter and Ian Endersby All photographs are by Reiner Richter, except as labelled. These other photographers retain copyright to their images. Reiner Richter and Ian Endersby have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the authors of this work. The information in this book is based on the authors’ experiences and opinions. The publisher specifically disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences, which may result from use of the information contained herein. Permission to use information has been sought by the authors. Any breaches will be rectified in further editions of the book. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the authors. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. Enquiries should be made through the publisher. ISBN 978-0-6483592-1-0 front cover image: Diplacodes melanopsis title page image: Austroaeschna unicornis back cover image: Xanthagrion erythroneurum Printed by: Impact Digital Pty Ltd Unit 3-4, 306 Albert Street Brunswick, VIC 3056 i Contents VIC TAS SA Introduction & Acknowledgements v Identification vi Differences in Dragonflies & Damselflies vii Anatomical Features viii Species and Distribution Notes ix Zygoptera (Damselflies) Hemiphlebiidae Hemiphlebia mirabilis 1 Synlestidae Synlestes weyersii 3 Lestidae Austrolestes analis 5 Austrolestes annulosus 7 Austrolestes aridus 9 Austrolestes cingulatus 11 Austrolestes io 13 Austrolestes leda 15 Austrolestes psyche 17 Lestoideidae Diphlebia lestoides 19 Diphlebia nymphoides 21 Argiolestidae Austroargiolestes calcaris 23 Austroargiolestes icteromelas 25 Griseargiolestes eboracus 27 Griseargiolestes intermedius 29 Isostictidae Rhadinosticta simplex 31 Platycnemidae Nososticta solida 33 Coenagrionidae Austroagrion cyane 35 Austroagrion watsoni 37 ii VIC TAS SA Austrocnemis splendida 39 Austrocoenagrion lyelli 41 Ischnura aurora 43 Ischnura heterosticta 45 Pseudagrion aureofrons 47 Pseudagrion microcephalum 49 Xanthagrion erythroneurum 51 Anisoptera (Dragonflies) Austropetaliidae Archipetalia auriculata 53 Austropetalia tonyana 55 Aeshnidae Adversaeschna brevistyla 57 Anax papuensis 59 Dendroaeschna conspersa 61 Austroaeschna atrata 63 Austroaeschna flavomaculata 65 Austroaeschna hardyi 67 Austroaeschna inermis 69 Austroaeschna ingrid 71 Austroaeschna multipunctata 73 Austroaeschna parvistigma 75 Austroaeschna subapicalis 77 Austroaeschna tasmanica 79 Austroaeschna unicornis 81 Austroaeschna pulchra 83 Austrophlebia costalis 85 Notoaeschna sagittata 87 Spinaeschna tripunctata 89 Telephlebia brevicauda 91 Gomphidae Austroepigomphus praeruptus 93 Austrogomphus australis 95 Austrogomphus cornutus 97 Austrogomphus guerini 99 Austrogomphus ochraceus 101 Hemigomphus gouldii 103 iii VIC TAS SA Hemigomphus heteroclytus 105 Synthemistidae Archaeosynthemis orientalis 107 Eusynthemis brevistyla 109 Eusynthemis guttata 111 Eusynthemis tillyardi 113 Eusynthemis virgula 115 Parasynthemis regina 117 Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides 119 Synthemis eustalacta 121 Synthemis tasmanica 123 Cordulephyidae Cordulephya montana 125 Cordulephya pygmaea 127 Austrocorduliidae Apocordulia macrops 129 Austrocordulia refracta 131 Corduliidae Hemicordulia australiae 133 Hemicordulia tau 135 Procordulia jacksoniensis 137 Libellulidae Austrothemis nigrescens 139 Crocothemis nigrifrons 141 Diplacodes bipunctata 143 Diplacodes haematodes 145 Diplacodes melanopsis 147 Nannophlebia risi 149 Nannophya australis 151 Nannophya dalei 153 Orthetrum caledonicum 155 Orthetrum villosovittatum 157 Pantala flavescens 159 Tramea loewii 161 iv 19 Lestoideidae Lestoideidae These are large, robust damselflies that are strong flyers and the males are vibrantly blue. Both species that occur in south-eastern Australia inhabit rocky rivers and streams and can be found at the same time. Male Diphlebia joust by hovering in flight facing each other until one is chased away. Diphlebia lestoides Whitewater Rockmaster Males may or may not have white bands near the outer edge of the wings – I have observed unbanded males chasing banded males away so I’m not sure if it is a maturity feature or it is just variable. Females appear similar to those of Diphlebia nymphoides. Males will perch on emergent rocks, logs or vegetation near breeding sites. Mating is quite quick, lasting only a few seconds. Females deposit into decaying plant material in water (such as bark and logs) and may completely submerge themselves for over 10 minutes while doing so. ovipositing on bark in rapids 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D Goulburn River, Jamieson VIC ♂ Aberfeldy River VIC ♀ 79 Aeshnidae Austroaeschna tasmanica Tasmanian Darner This species only occurs in Tasmania where it can be found along rocky rivers in rainforest areas. Diagnostic features are the huge, backwardly pointing cone on segment 10 of the male matched by a pair of large lobes behind the eyes of the female. It is fairly similar to Austroaeschna parvistigma. 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D.

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