Identification The gomphids are quite a complex group with several very similar species and possibly one or more undescribed / un-named species. Gomphids breed strictly in rivers; usually wide rivers with a gravelly substrate and margins. They are not expected to occur in any still water habitats but like any dragonflies, there is a possibility that they may disperse across land.

The commonest species appears to be Austrogomphus guerini which occurs in rivers around the outskirts of the Melbourne Metropolitan area. It is the only gomphid with a pale yellow stripe running all the way from the thorax to the tip of the abdomen so it is relatively simple to identify. The rarest is a species that was first described as A. praeruptus that may be the same species as A. melaleucae however the evidence is confused and it is even possible that another as yet undescribed species also occurs. Sightings are from areas including the Murray-Darling Basin and north of the Grampians.

After a prolonged period of drought and given the significant impacts of agriculture in these areas, these important species may have been lost from large areas. Gomphids, as with the darner group (Telephlebiidae) seem to have been largely overlooked in Victoria, on account of the localised nature of their habitat and the difficulty of catching them. More work is needed on this group to determine appropriate field identification characters for most of the species. 

If anyone captures any species thought to be A. melaleucae / praeruptus or not otherwise identifiable, it is encouraged that the animals are packaged and sent to Museum Victoria. 

Captured dragonflies may be killed humanely by placing them in a freezer for several hours then placed in an envelope inside a box and posted. 

The two Hemigomphus species: H. gouldii and H. heteroclytus are extremely similar and may not be possible to separate in the field. Both differ from the Austrogomphus species by the male claspers (at the tip of the abdomen) diverging at the tips. They converge in the Austrogomphus species. H. gouldii at least appears to be quite common in northeast Victoria.