Austroaeschna unicornis - Unicorn Darner

Male identification: Large red-brown dragonfly boldly marked with pale blue and yellowish features. Top of thorax has two pairs of destinctive, long curved stripes on each side of centre. Side of thorax has a lateral stripe in two parts of unequal length, the longest piece being pinched at middle and slightly bent. two isolated spots in field between lateral and humeral stripes. A diagnastic pale spot at forward end of humeral on the mesokatepisternum. Abdomen has obvious paired spots in centre dorsally on segments 3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9. Pale spots laterally on segments 3,4,5,6,7 and 8. Top half of post clypeus,labrum and labium pale. Short pale band on each side of frons reaches onto top without meeting,more or less even width along length. Postgenae and occipital triangle yellow. Distal 8th 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.inermis. Identified by pale spot on mesokatepisternum, pinched middle of slightly bent lateral stripe, and two isolated pale spots in region between lateral and humeral stripes. Also bands on frons uniform width along their length, and less black on femur.

Behaviour: Strong flight, often low over water. Lays eggs in fallen timber.

Distribution: Appears to be distributed quite widely in central and eastern Victoria, mostly below 800m including lowlands, but sometimes at higher altitudes.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Rivers and creeks in moderately forested areas and lowlands e.g. floodplains of Kiewa and Murray Rivers.

Status: Moderately common and widespread

Flight period: November to April