Austrogomphus guerini - Yellow-striped Hunter

Male identification: A dainty yellow and black dragonfly with a prominent yellow mid-dorsal line along the whole length of the abdomen. Also with prominent yellow lateral markings forming a thick broken line along the abdomen. Black legs. Upper thorax with antehumeral continuous with collar and humeral stripe. Intersegmental suture virtually unmarked, so the metanepisternum is mostly plain-yellow. Plain face. Yellow legs.

Female identification: Similar to male but stockier

Similar species: Very similar to other Austrogomphids. Readily separated from similarly common A. ochraceus by the antehumeral joined to the collar and humeral stripe, yellow mid-dorsal yellow line extending down the entire abdomen and yellow legs.

Behaviour: Readily perches on bankside vegetation, rocks and logs. Flies low and fast over water.

Distribution: Throughout Victoria at a range of altitudes from the coast up to 1200m.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Rivers. Often seen on roads, paths and forest rides away from water. Commonest in slightly hilly areas.

Status: Common and widespread

Flight period: November to February