Austrothemis nigrescens - Swamp Flat-tail

Male identification: Flat bodied with a pair of dagger-shaped forward-facing marks on abdominal segments 5-7. Black eyes. Black pterostigma and slight yellow patches at the base of the wings.

Female identification: Similar to male with yellow rather than red base colour.

Similar species: Males similar to D. bipunctata which differs by having reddish eyes, a red face and single spots along the mid-dorsal line of the abdomen. Males also very similar to D. melanopsis, which has black eyes but three distinct lines of spots running up the mid-dorsal line and sides of the abdomen

Behaviour: Flies low and fast over floating vegetation.

Distribution: Lowland areas of West Gippsland including the upper catchment of the Latrobe River, Wilsons Promontory and the Gippsland Lakes.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Permanent lakes and ponds, probably only within coastal dune vegetation.

Status: Uncommon and localised

Flight period: No information at present