P h o t o g r a p h e r ’ s F i e l d G u i d eP h o t o g r a p h e r ’ s F i e l d G u i d et o t h et o t h e

DragonfliesDragonflieso fo f

S o u t h E a s t e r n A u s t r a l i aS o u t h E a s t e r n A u s t r a l i a

Reiner Richter

2

Text and photographs © Copyright 2018, Reiner Richter

This book is copyright and all rights are reserved. Except for purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission of the publisher.

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 (Damselflies) 3

Suborder Z ygoptera (Damsel f l ies )

Family DiphlebiidaeThese are large, robust damselflies that are powerfulflyers. Males are strikingly blue. Both species that occurin south-eastern Australia inhabit rocky rivers andstreams.

Diphlebia lestoides

Whitewater Rockmaster C L E

Males may or may not have white bands near the outeredge of the wings – I have observed unbanded maleschasing banded males away so I’m not sure if its amaturity feature or its just variable. Females are similarto those of Diphlebia nymphoides. Males will perch onemergent rocks, logs or vegetation near breeding sites.Females deposit into decaying plant material in water(such as bark and logs) and may completely submergethemselves 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.

Hemiphlebiidae 5

Family HemiphlebiidaeHemiphlebia mirabilis

Ancient Greenling U L E

These are fairly small damselflies (around 25mm longoverall) with metallic green over the thorax andabdomen, which appears to get darker with age. Bothsexes regularly display characteristic tail-flickingbehaviour when disturbed or after landing, which Ibelieve to be for avoiding mating as it could brush off amale. Reasonable populations exist in the Glenelg Riverbasin (in western Victoria) and northern Tasmania, butalso rarely occurs in eastern Victoria. Prefers thicklyvegetated swamps that dry out in summer.

Family

6 Isostictidae

Family IsostictidaeRhadinosticta 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.

Lestidae 7

Family LestidaeAustrolestes analis

Slender Ringtail C W

This slender damselfly inhabits a wide range of stillwaters, including temporary ponds and ephemeralswamps. It appears most similar to Austrolestes aridusbut has a smaller mark at the posterior of the thoraxand abdominal segment 9 is predominantly darkabove 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 stillwater, including temporary pools. Males are fairly uniquely patterned but females are very similar toAustrolestes psyche, 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 ofthe southern mainland, particularly across inlandAustralia where they can be found at temporarywaterways and dams. They are fairly similar toAustrolestes analis but have a larger pale mark to therear of the thorax and, for the male, abdominalsegment 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 coldstreams with clean water. Its most similar toAustrolestes 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

Austrolestes io (Selys, 1862) Waterhouse151109-6229hq.jpg♂

Waterhouse151023-7400.jpg♂♀

Austrolestes leda (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 toAustrolestes cingulatus.

Megapodagrionidae 13

Family MegapodagrionidaeAustroargiolestes 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: DisparoneurinaeNososticta solida (Hagen, 1860)

Family SynlestidaeSynlestes selysi Tillyard, 1917

Lamington150530-2904.jpg♂

Bunya130414-6224.jpg♀

Synlestes weyersii Selys, 1869 Yalmy150110-4975.jpg♂

Kanangra141230-9598.jpg♀

Family CoenagrionidaeAgriocnemis 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-westWestern Australia. They inhabit still and sluggishwaters, including swamps and perch horizontally nearthe water surface on emergent vegetation andfloating leaves (including water-lilies). Flights areusually short, although males have been observedappearing to search for a mate during hot weather.Males are similar to Austroagrion watsoni butabdominal segments 8 and 9 are virtually entirely blueand 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

Caliagrion bill inghursti

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, thoughteneral females can be confused with some othermembers of the same family. They are mostly foundat still waters, particularly open areas, as well as slowsections of rivers.

18 Epiprocta: Anisoptera

Suborder Ep iprocta: Anisoptera

Family AustropetaliidaeArchipetalia auriculata Tillyard, 1917

Austropetalia patricia (Tillyard, 1910)

Austropetalia tonyana Theischinger, 1995

Family AeshnidaeAdversaeschna brevistyla (Rambur, 1842)

Anax papuensis (Burmeister, 1839)

Family BrachytronidaeDendroaeschna conspersa (Tillyard, 1907)

Family Telephlebiidae

Telephlebiidae 19

Acanthaeschna victoria Martin, 1901

Austroaeschna(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 dragonflies 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 hawkingin 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)

Notoaeschna sagittata (Martin, 1901)

Spinaeschna tripunctata (Martin, 1901)

Telephlebia brevicauda Tillyard, 1916

Telephlebia godeffroyi Selys, 1883

Family LindeniidaeIctinogomphus australis (Selys, 1873)

Family GomphidaeAustroepigomphus (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 PetaluridaePetalura gigantea Leach, 1815

Family Synthemistidae

22 Synthemistidae

Archaeosynthemis orientalis (Tillyard, 1910)

Choristhemis flavoterminata (Martin, 1901)

Eusynthemis aurolineata (Tillyard, 1913)

Eusynthemis brevistyla (Selys, 1871)

Eusynthemis guttata (Selys, 1871)

Eusynthemis til lyardi Theischinger, 1995

Eusynthemis virgula (Selys, 1874)

Parasynthemis regina (Selys, 1874)

Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides Tillyard, 1917

Synthemis eustalacta (Burmeister, 1839)

Synthemis tasmanica Tillyard, 1910

Family GomphomacromiidaeArchaeophya adamsi Fraser, 1959

Family CordulephyidaeCordulephya divergens Tillyard, 1917

Cordulephya montana Tillyard, 1911

Cordulephya pygmaea Selys, 1870

Family AustrocorduliidaeApocordulia macrops Watson, 1980

Austrocordulia leonardi Theischinger, 1973

Austrocordulia refracta Tillyard, 1909

Family Corduliidae

Corduliidae 23

Hemicordulia australiae (Rambur, 1842)

Hemicordulia tau (Selys, 1871)

Procordulia jacksoniensis (Rambur, 1842)

Family LibellulidaeAustrothemis 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 waterand perch horizontally. Males and females have a very similar appearance to each other.

Libellulidae 25

Tramea loewii