APRIL 2007 PRIMEFACT 184 Threatened species in NSW Sydney Hawk leonardi Habitat loss and degradation have been implicated in the decline of the Sydney Hawk dragonfly. The Sydney Hawk dragonfly is listed as an endangered species in NSW. There are heavy penalties for harming, possessing, buying or selling them, or for harming their habitat (see ‘Legal implications’).

Description The Sydney Hawk dragonfly is a black and yellow dragonfly with clear wings spanning 60-70mm, and with an adult abdomen length of 35-40mm. The aquatic larvae have a body length of 22-24mm and are distinguished from the similar Eastern Hawk dragonfly, , by a uniformly arched abdomen and distinctive abdominal colour pattern.

Habitat and ecology • The Sydney Hawk dragonfly spends most of its life underwater as an aquatic larva, before metamorphosing and emerging from the water Photo: Gunther Theischinger as an adult. Adults are thought to only live for several weeks or a few months. Threatened Species Unit • All are predatory. The larvae stalk or Fisheries Conservation and Aquaculture Branch ambush aquatic prey while the adults capture Port Stephens Fisheries Centre prey while flying. • The Sydney Hawk dragonfly has specific habitat requirements, and has only ever been collected Introduction from deep and shady river pools with cooler water. Larvae are found under rocks where they The Sydney Hawk dragonfly, Austrocordulia coexist with the Eastern Hawk dragonfly. leonardi Theischinger is an extremely rare species of dragonfly. The known distribution of the species includes three locations in a small area south of Why is the Sydney Hawk dragonfly Sydney, from Audley to Picton. The species is also threatened? known from the Hawkesbury-Nepean, Georges • River regulation and alteration of flows have River and Port Hacking drainages. caused the disappearance of natural deep pools. The species was discovered in 1968 from • Habitat degradation resulting from the removal Woronora River and Kangaroo Creek, south of of riparian (river bank) vegetation, drainage Sydney and later recorded from the Nepean River works and sedimentation. at the Maldon Bridge near Wilton. Extensive dragonfly sampling has failed to discover • Water pollution and sedimentation due to land specimens of this species in other locations, clearing, waste disposal and stormwater runoff suggesting that it has a highly restricted from urban, industrial and agricultural distribution. development in the catchment.

• Chance events such as natural disasters Legal implications (drought) may eliminate remaining local It is illegal to catch and keep, buy, sell, possess or populations. Local extinctions could greatly harm the Sydney Hawk dragonfly (or any other affect the survival of the species as a whole due threatened species in NSW) without a specific to their rarity. permit, licence or other appropriate approval, and significant penalties apply. For endangered species Conservation and recovery actions these penalties can include fines of up to $220,000 and up to 2 years in prison. • Allocate and manage environmental water through water sharing planning processes, to There can also be significant penalties for causing lessen the impacts of altered flows. damage to the habitat of a threatened species • Prevent sedimentation and poor water quality by without approval through action such as dredging using conservation farming and grazing riverbeds. practices, conserve and restore riparian (river Clearing activities authorised by a property bank) vegetation and use effective erosion and vegetation plan approved under the Native sediment control measures. Vegetation Act 2003 are permitted provided the • Rehabilitate degraded habitats. Protect riparian native vegetation reform package had the benefit of vegetation and encourage the use of effective biodiversity certification at the time the property sediment control measures in catchments where vegetation plan was approved. the dragonfly may occur. Clearing that constitutes a routine agricultural • Protect the few remaining sites with the potential management activity, and certain routine farming to support the species, and address key threats practice activities (other than clearing) are such as habitat degradation and water quality permitted, provided the activities are to the decline. minimum extent reasonably necessary and all • Conduct further research into the species’ other relevant statutory approvals or authorities biology, ecology and distribution. have been obtained. • Implement the Protected, Threatened and Pest The impacts of developments or activities that Species Sighting Program: Report any require consent or approval in accordance with the sightings of the species on the NSW DPI 24 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 hour automated message-taking service by must be assessed and considered by consent or calling (02) 4916 3877. determining authorities. Where such actions are likely to result in a significant impact on a threatened species or its habitat, a detailed species impact statement must be prepared.

PRIMEFACT 184, SYDNEY HAWK DRAGONFLY 2 Strategies to be adopted for promoting the recovery of the Sydney Hawk dragonfly to a position of viability in nature must be set out in the NSW DPI Priorities Action Statement. A recovery plan may be prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 to promote the recovery of the species to a position of viability in nature.

Bibliography and further reading Fisheries Scientific Committee 2005, Final recommendation, Austrocordulia leonardi Sydney Hawk dragonfly. Hawking JH 1997, The conservation status of dragonflies () from south-eastern Australia, Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 56(2): 537-542. Hawking JH 1999, An evaluation of the current conservation status of Australian dragonflies Exuvia of Austrocordulia leonardi. (Odonata). In: W Ponder & D Lunney (eds), The Other 99%. The Conservation and Biodiversity of Illustration: Gunther Theischinger Invertebrates, Transactions of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman. For further information Hawking J & Theischinger G 2004, Critical species Phone the Fisheries Information and Advisory of Odonata in Australia. International Journal of Line: 1300 550 474 Odonatology 79(2): 113-132. Theischinger G & Hawking JH 2006, The Contact the NSW DPI Threatened Species Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Unit CSIRO Publishing, 366pp. Port Stephens Fisheries Centre Theischinger G & Watson JAL 1978, The Locked Bag 1 Australian Gomphomacromiinae (Odonata: Nelson Bay NSW 2315 ). Australian Journal of Zoology 26: Fax (02) 4916 3880 399-431. Email [email protected] Theischinger G & Watson JAL 1984, Larvae of Australian Gomphomacromiinae and their bearing on the status of the Synthemis group of genera © State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Primary Industries 2007. You may copy, distribute and (Odonata: Corduliidae). Australian Journal of otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, Zoology 32: 67-95. provided that you attribute NSW Department of Primary Industries as the owner.

ISSN 1832-6668

Check for updates of this Primefact at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/primefacts

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (April 2007). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent adviser.

Job number 6557

Potential Sydney Hawk dragonfly habitat Photo: Andrew Bruce

PRIMEFACT 184, SYDNEY HAWK DRAGONFLY 3