Spinaeschna tripunctata - Southern Cascade Darner

Male identification: Large, red-brown dragonfly with distinct pale greenish-yellow markings. Top of thorax has a single long straight pale stripe on each side of centre and parallel. Side of thorax has a long stripe with large spot at end on the mesokatepisternum and a third broad thoracic stripe lower down. Thus the thorax has three parallel stripes when viewed from the side. Two small spots and distally a larger almost triangular shape in the space between the two lower stripes. The upper surface of abdomenal segments 3,4,5,6 and 7 have closely paired small subtriangular spots in the centre, and a pair of widely spaced small almond shaped spots at the distal end. Sides of abdomen sparsely marked by a series of small yellow spots at the anterior end of each segment. In general the abdomen appears to have an even distribution of similar sized small spots. Segment 10 has a cluster of five dorsal longitudinal ridges. Anal appendages long, more than twice as long as segment 10, and have a distinct tooth near the base ventrally.Top half of postclypeus pale, a pair of spots on top of frons, labrum yellow divided into halves by a centre line. Postgenae yellow and small spot in centre of occular triangle.

Female identification: Markings same as male, identified by much thicker abdomen. Anal appendages also long like male but do not meet at tips, running parallel from each side of segment 10. Male appendages strongly curve convexly inwards to centreline where they meet.

Similar species: A distinctive Darner unlikely to be confused with any other species. Combination of red-brown colouration and patterning of thorax and face similar to both A.pulchra and Notoaeschna. The evenly spaced small spots on the abdomen, combined with two spots on top of the frons as apposed to the short lateral bars of the other species mentioned, as well as the distinct tooth near the base ventrally of the male anal appendages is diagnostic.

Behaviour: No information at present

Distribution: Recent record from Valencia Creek in central Gippsland at just over 100m altitude. A second record from the early 1900s at similar altitude near Alexandra

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Common name implies it occurs on fast flowing rivers

Status: Uncommon and localised.

Flight period: No information at present