Austroaeschna inermis - Whitewater Darner

Male identification: Large red-brown dragonfly with pale blue and yellowish features. Top of thorax has a pair of destinctive, long curved stripes on each side of centre. Side of thorax has a straight lateral stripe with a line break at a third of its length. Area between lateral and humeral stripes with no markings. No pale spot on mesokatepisternum. region of lower thorax where legs attach including proepimeron, meso and metakatepisternums noticeably pruinescent. Abdomen has obvious pair of pale spots in centre dorsally on segments 3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9. Pale spots laterally on forward half of segments 3,4,5,6,7 and 8.Anal appendages short. Top half of post clypeus, labrum and labium pale. Short pale band reaching onto top of frons from each side not meeting in middle. Short bands on frons pinched at middle and widest at dorsal end. Postgenae and occipital triangle pale. Distal 3rd of femur black.

Female identification: Markings same as male, identified by much thicker abdomen and lack of long superior anal appendages.

Similar species: Closely similar to sister species A.unicornis. Separated from unicornis by lack of pale spot on mesokatepisternum, essentially straight lateral stripe with no markings in field between lateral and humeral stripes or if present minimal. Anal appendages half length of unicornis. Also short bands on frons different shape and longer extent of black on femur.

Behaviour: Fast flight, often low over water.

Distribution: Appears to be found at relatively high altitudes in eastern Victoria, mostly above about 800m.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Larger stony-bottomed rivers in floodplains in the high country

Status: Uncommon and localised.

Flight period: January to February