VICTORIAN DRAGONFLIES

IDENTIFICATION

There are several species of dragonfly that are quite common around the Melbourne area, including the Dandenongs. The following annotated list may help to identify some species but for more accurate information, consult the species pages by following the links.

DRAGONFLIES (go to damselflies)
	Multi-spotted Darner (Austroaeschna multipunctata) - found locally in lowland hills around Melbourne, including the Dandenongs and Kinglake. Often found hawking in forest rides near creeks with tree ferns. Superficially very similar to other Austroaeschna species. Heavily spotted thorax, two isolated yellow spots in front of the eyes and barely marked top of thorax are all features.,
	Blue-spotted Hawker (Adversaeschna brevistyla) - commonly seen over significant waterbodies, especially those with standing vegetation such as reeds or typha. Superficially similar to darners, but quite different behaviour. Large, robust dragonfly with a buoyant, fluttering flight. Heavily spotted on the flanks of the abdomen. Often perches, when blue spots at the base of the abdomen can be seen. Has thick pale lines on the side of the thorax and obvious orange leading vein on the forewings, usually visible in good light.
	Australian Emperor (Hemianax papuensis) - a very large dragonfly with flight similar to Blue-spotted Hawker. Distinct yellowish green head, and whole thorax. Abdomen heavily marked orange on black with very distinct orange patches near tail tip that give the insect an orange-tailed appearance even in flight. Orange leading vein in wings is also obvious in flight.
	Small Tigertail (Eusynthemis brevistyla) - a small and slender black dragonfly with a series of faint double-spots along the abdomen, culminating in two large pale blotches near the tail tip. Obvious pale spots at the junction of the wings and the thorax. Usually found near water in forest. A mainly lowland species but also occurring in foothills.
	Southern Tigertail (Eusynthemis guttata) - a small black dragonfly, slightly more robust than Small Tigertail and with a series of evenly spaced and sized double-spots down the abdomen towards the tail and lacking any large pale markings near the tail tip. No obvious pale spots where the wings join the thorax. More usually found in foothills.
	Australian Emerald (Hemicordulia australiae) - a very common migratory species, sometimes occurring in swarms and very often distant from water. Only males have green eyes. Medium-sized and at a distance, appearing unmarked but orange abdominal markings usually visible through binoculars. The ends of the wings of females are brownish (clear in males). Lacks any orange veins and has black spots (pterostigma) on the wing tips.
	Tau Emerald (Hemocordulia tau) - a common migratory species occurring in most waterbodies. Slightly larger and thick set than Australian emerald with bolder markings and distinct yellow spot at tail tip. Wings have distinct orange leading veins and orange spots (pterostigma) on the wing tips.
	Wandering Percher (Diplacodes bipunctata) - a common species often seen over vegetation around the edge of waterbodies and often perching. Superficially similar to some other Diplacodes but the only common species in the area with black spots on the abdomen.
	Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum) - a common species around the edge of waterbodies. Characteristically seen flying low over gravel paths and muddy edges, tending to prefer open ground to dense vegetation. The only common species in the area where the male has a blue body and black tail tip. Females and young males are a similar shape but orange in colour.