Photographer’sPhotographer’s FieldField GuideGuide t o t h e DragonfliesDragonflies o f SouthSouth EasternEastern AustraliaAustralia

Reiner Richter 2

Text and photographs © Copyright 2018, Reiner Richter

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Where available, a photo of the male and female are shown. The male is shown in the upper picture as its usually more brightly colored and readily recognized.

Key to Abundance

C Common Highly likely to be encountered in its habitat.

M Moderately common Often encountered in its habitat.

U Uncommon Sometimes encountered in its habitat.

R Rare Rarely observed.

W Widespread Found in a wide range of habitats or distributed across a large range.

L Localised Only found in specific habitats and/or with a restricted range.

E Early-Season Emerges and flight time finishes early.

T Trailing-Season Emerges late in the season trailing into autumn. Zygoptera () 3 Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies)

Family These are large, robust damselflies that are powerful flyers. Males are strikingly blue. Both that occur in south-eastern Australia inhabit rocky rivers and streams.

Diphlebia lestoides Whitewater Rockmaster C L E 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 its a maturity feature or its just variable. Females are similar to those of Diphlebia nymphoides. Males will perch on emergent rocks, logs or vegetation near breeding sites. 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. 4 Diphlebiidae Diphlebia nymphoides Arrowhead Rockmaster C L These are a little larger than Diphlebia lestoides and may cohabit, but the smaller species will usually be less common by the time Diphlebia nymphoides emerges. Although their wings may have some dark shading they are never strongly marked. Females appear similar to Diphlebia lestoides and deposit eggs into wet plant material usually at rapids where the males will be perched. 5 Family Hemiphlebiidae Ancient Greenling U L E These are fairly small damselflies (around 25mm long overall) with metallic green over the thorax and abdomen, which appears to get darker with age. Both sexes regularly display characteristic tail-flicking behaviour when disturbed or after landing, which I believe to be for avoiding mating as it could brush off a male. Reasonable populations exist in the Glenelg River basin (in western Victoria) and northern , but also rarely occurs in eastern Victoria. Prefers thickly vegetated swamps that dry out in summer.

Family 6 Family Isostictidae Rhadinosticta simplex Powdered Wiretail M W Although reasonably common along the east coast they are cryptically perch in vegetation woody beside slow sections of streams and are harder to spot. Occasionally they are observed a little inland along semi-permanent waterways. Their appearance is unique in southern Australia but in the northern states of the country there are several other similar species in this family. 7 Family Lestidae analis Slender Ringtail C W This slender inhabits a wide range of still waters, including temporary ponds and ephemeral swamps. It appears most similar to but has a smaller mark at the posterior of the thorax and abdominal segment 9 is predominantly dark above for the male. 8 Lestidae Austrolestes annulosus Blue Ringtail C W This is the largest and mature males are the bluest of the ringtails. They can be found at a wide range of still water, including temporary pools. Males are fairly uniquely patterned but females are very similar to , the thickness of the antehumeral stripe is about the only way to tell them apart in the field. Lestidae 9 Austrolestes aridus Inland Ringtail U W E These damselflies can be found throughout much of the southern mainland, particularly across inland Australia where they can be found at temporary waterways and dams. They are fairly similar to Austrolestes analis but have a larger pale mark to the rear of the thorax and, for the male, abdominal segment 9 is predominantly pale. 10 Lestidae Austrolestes cingulatus Metallic Ringtail M W A metallic bluish green species found at a variety of habitat but more commonly at higher altitudes or cold streams with clean water. Its most similar to Austrolestes psyche, with which it shares most of its range, and the diagnostic feature is on tergum 2. These damselflies appear most comfortable perching horizontally from vertical vegetation. Lestidae 11 (Selys, 1862) ♂ Waterhouse151109-6229hq.jpg

♂♀ Waterhouse151023-7400.jpg (Selys, 1862) ♂ Grampians131229-0121hq.jpg

♀ Grampians131229-9978.jpg 12 Lestidae Austrolestes psyche Cup Ringtail C W Found mostly at swamps and vegetated dams but also sometimes at other still and sluggish water. Mature males are black and blue but females are rarely very blue. They are very similar to Austrolestes minjerriba (which only occurs in northern NSW and southern Qld) and the Western Australian endemic Austrolestes aleison. Females are very similar to the slightly larger Austrolestes annulosus and about the only way to separate them from a photo is the antehumeral stripe is thinner in A. psyche. Both sexes are also similar to Austrolestes cingulatus. 13 Family Megapodagrionidae Austroargiolestes calcaris ♂ BadgerCreek151231-3501hq.jpg

♀ SassafrasCreek151220-1574hq.jpg Austroargiolestes icteromelas ♂ Bunyip141109-5085.jpg

♀ Coopracambra131103-4450.jpg Austroargiolestes isabellae ♂ Lithgow140112-1491.jpg

♀ Lithgow121229-1431.jpg Griseargiolestes eboracus (Tillyard, 1913) ♂ Kanangra141230-9457hq.jpg

♀ Kanangra141230-9471.jpg Griseargiolestes griseus (Hagen, 1862) ♂ Penrose140209-4228.jpg

♀ Penrose141226-8537.jpg Griseargiolestes intermedius (Tillyard, 1913) ♂ SassafrasCreek151220-1560hq.jpg

♀ Acheron151230-3171hq.jpg 14 Platycnemidae: Disparoneurinae Family Platycnemidae: Disparoneurinae Nososticta solida (Hagen, 1860) Family selysi Tillyard, 1917 ♂ Lamington150530-2904.jpg

♀ Bunya130414-6224.jpg Selys, 1869 ♂ Yalmy150110-4975.jpg

♀ Kanangra141230-9598.jpg Family Agriocnemis pygmaea (Rambur, 1842) Argiocnemis rubescens Selys, 1877 Coenagrionidae 15 Austroagrion cyane South-western Billabongfly R L Although rare in South Australia and western Victoria, this small, blue damselfly is common in south-west Western Australia. They inhabit still and sluggish waters, including swamps and perch horizontally near the water surface on emergent vegetation and floating leaves (including water-lilies). Flights are usually short, although males have been observed appearing to search for a mate during hot weather. Males are similar to Austroagrion watsoni but abdominal segments 8 and 9 are virtually entirely blue and posterior portion of segment 7 is usually blue. Females are very similar to Austroagrion watsoni and (to a lesser extent) Xanthagrion erythroneurum. 16 Coenagrionidae Austroagrion watsoni Austrocnemis splendida billinghursti Coenagrion lyelli Ischnura aurora Ischnura heterosticta Pseudagrion aureofrons Pseudagrion microcephalum Coenagrionidae 17 Xanthagrion erythroneurum Red and Blue Damselfly C W Mature specimens are uniquely red and blue, though teneral females can be confused with some other members of the same family. They are mostly found at still waters, particularly open areas, as well as slow sections of rivers. 18 : Anisoptera Suborder Epiprocta: Anisoptera

Family Archipetalia auriculata Tillyard, 1917 Austropetalia patricia (Tillyard, 1910) Austropetalia tonyana Theischinger, 1995 Family Adversaeschna brevistyla (Rambur, 1842) Anax papuensis (Burmeister, 1839) Family Brachytronidae Dendroaeschna conspersa (Tillyard, 1907) Family Telephlebiidae 19 Acanthaeschna victoria Martin, 1901 (Austroaeschna) atrata Martin, 1901 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) flavomaculata Tillyard, 1916 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) hardyi Tillyard 1907 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) inermis Martin, 1901 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) ingrid, Theischinger, 2008 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) multipunctata (Martin, 1901) Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) obscura Theischinger, 1982 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) parvistigma (Selys, 1883) Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) sigma Theischinger, 1982 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) subapicalis Theischinger, 1982 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) tasmanica Tillyard, 1916 Austroaeschna (Austroaeschna) unicornis (Martin, 1901) 20 Telephlebiidae Austroaeschna pulchra Forest Darner C L These large, brown inhabit rocky streams and rivers in generally hilly areas. Females deposit eggs into detritus at the edge of water. Males patrol along the edges of the waterways, frequently hawking in one spot. In its range it is the only darner with only large, isolated pairs of spots along the tail. Telephlebiidae 21 Austrophlebia costalis (Tillyard, 1907) sagittata (Martin, 1901) Spinaeschna tripunctata (Martin, 1901) brevicauda Tillyard, 1916 Telephlebia godeffroyi Selys, 1883 Family australis (Selys, 1873) Family Austroepigomphus (Austroepigomphus) praeruptus (Selys, 1857) Austrogomphus (Austrogomphus) angelorum Tillyard, 1913 Austrogomphus (Austrogomphus) australis Dale, 1854 Austrogomphus (Austrogomphus) cornutus Watson, 1991 Austrogomphus (Austrogomphus) guerini (Rambur, 1842) Austrogomphus (Austrogomphus) ochraceus (Selys, 1869) Austrogomphus (Pleiogomphus) amphiclitus (Selys, 1873) Hemigomphus gouldii (Selys, 1854) Hemigomphus heteroclytus Selys, 1854 Family Petalura gigantea Leach, 1815 Family 22 Synthemistidae Archaeosynthemis orientalis (Tillyard, 1910) flavoterminata (Martin, 1901) aurolineata (Tillyard, 1913) Eusynthemis brevistyla (Selys, 1871) Eusynthemis guttata (Selys, 1871) Eusynthemis tillyardi Theischinger, 1995 Eusynthemis virgula (Selys, 1874) Parasynthemis regina (Selys, 1874) Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides Tillyard, 1917 eustalacta (Burmeister, 1839) Synthemis tasmanica Tillyard, 1910 Family adamsi Fraser, 1959 Family divergens Tillyard, 1917 Cordulephya montana Tillyard, 1911 Cordulephya pygmaea Selys, 1870 Family Apocordulia macrops Watson, 1980 leonardi Theischinger, 1973 Tillyard, 1909 Family Corduliidae 23 Hemicordulia australiae (Rambur, 1842) Hemicordulia tau (Selys, 1871) Procordulia jacksoniensis (Rambur, 1842) Family Austrothemis nigrescens (Martin, 1901) Crocothemis nigrifrons (Kirby, 1894) Diplacodes bipunctata (Brauer, 1865) Diplacodes haematodes (Burmeister, 1839) Diplacodes melanopsis (Martin, 1901) Nannophlebia risi Tillyard, 1913 Nannophya australis Brauer, 1865 Nannophya dalei (Tillyard, 1908) Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865) Orthetrum sabina (Drury, 1770) Orthetrum villosovittatum (Brauer, 1865) Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) 24 Libellulidae Rhyothemis graphiptera Graphic Flutterer C W These black bodies dragonflies have distinctive dark blotches all over the wings making them easy to recognize in the field. They can be found at a variety of still, usually vegetated water and perch horizontally. Males and females have a very similar appearance to each other. Libellulidae 25 Tramea loewii