Tramea loewii - Common Glider

Male identification: Abdomen bright red and slightly flattened tapering to a narrow black tip. Wings very broad with distinct dark saddle-mark. Eyes dark. Face reddish. Red leading veins on wings.

Female identification: Dark orange slightly flattened abdomen tapering to a point. Large black spots on abdominal segments 8-9. Distinct broad wings with dark saddle-mark.

Similar species: Unlikely to be confused with other species on account of having large black saddle-mark at base of wings.

Behaviour: Flies relatively slowly high over open water interdispersed with periods of gliding.

Distribution: One record from far northwest Victoria at a billabong near Mildura.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Relatively large billabongs and lakes or slow moving waterbodies.

Status: Uncommon and widespread

Flight period: Recorded once in October