odonata |

I’ve been gradually enlightened about the mysterious and marvelous world of dragonflies and damselflies.

Dragonflies have always fascinated me, but I’ve only recently been switched on to their more delicate relatives, the damselflies.

Gold-fronted Riverdamsel. Pseudagrion aureofrons. Stockyard Creek.

This post is dedicated to Barry Kenway, highly-respected and knowledgeable Toowoomba naturalist, who passed away last week. I had the good fortune to spend some time with Barry, and Rod Hobson, chasing dragonflies in February 2012 (see Rockmasters and other legendary dragonflies). Barry’s knowledge about, and infectious enthusiasm for, these wonderful creatures was a joy. It would be hard to forget Barry’s smile as he spied yet another species of Odonata zipping about a creek sparkling with summer light.

Barry Kenway and Rod Hobson, Rockmount, February 2012.

Here’s a gallery of damselflies I’ve encountered over the last few years. They are a challenge to photograph!

Catherine Burton, Rob Gratwick's place. With Rod Hobson, Helen Scanlen, Catherine Burton. Common Flatwing Austroargiolestes icteromelas., Ridge Prospect, Hell Hole.

Lake McKenzie, Fraser Island, March 2010. Common Bluetail Ischnura heterosticta

Stockyard Creek with Rod Hobson. Arrowhead Rockmaster Diphlebia nymphoides

Rockmount area, February 2012. Rod Hobson, Barry Kenway. Yellow-tipped Tigertail. Choristhemis flavoterminata.

Rockmount area, February 2012. Rod Hobson, Barry Kenway. Sapphire Rockmaster. Diphlebia coerulescens.

Rockmount area, February 2012. Rod Hobson, Barry Kenway. Southern Whitetip, Episynlestes albicauda.

Rockmount area, February 2012. Rod Hobson, Barry Kenway. Gold-fronted Riverdamsel. Pseudagrion aureofrons.

Rockmount area, February 2012. Rod Hobson, Barry Kenway. Red and Blue Damsel. Xanthagrion erythroneurum.

Wainui Station survey, February 2009. Damselfly, Nososticta solida Orange Threadtail

Coastal Flatwing Griseargiolestes albescens

Rockmount area, February 2012. Rod Hobson, Barry Kenway. Eastern Billabongfly. Austroagrion watsoni.

Damselflies are primitive insects belonging to the order Odonata (a name that refers to the large teeth-like mandibles of both larva and adult). There are two suborders of Odonata in Australia — the damselflies (Zygoptera)and the dragonflies (Epiproctophora or Anisoptera). There are 12 families of damselflies in Australia.

How do damselflies differ from dragonflies? Damselflies are generally very slender insects, with fore- and hindwings similar in shape and venation and usually held closed above their bodies at rest. Their larvae have external gills on the end of the abdomen. Dragonflies are stouter and stronger flying insects, with fore- and hindwings more or less dissimilar in shape and venation, which they hold spread out when at rest. Their larvae have internal, rectal gills.

The summer of 2011-2012 was hot and wet. Great for frogs, insects, reptiles and all sorts of things. I had the good fortune to be invited on a dragonfly-hunting expedition to some rarely-flowing creeks near Rockmount, just down the hill to the east of Toowoomba.

Jade Hunter (Austrogomphus ochraceus). Challenging the intruder to his patch of creek, or just curious? All photos Robert Ashdown.

Rod Hobson and Barry Kenway — fans of the fluttering insects belonging to the order Odonata — were spotting species that hadn’t been seen locally for a while, or at all. They were especially keen to spot some ‘rockmasters’ — large and spectacular damselflies.

Stockyard Creek, Rockmount — a dragonfly paradise.

The creeks were alive with insect life, and it was very enjoyable just sitting with the camera trying to snare images of things as they flashed past.

Scarlet Percher (Diplacodes haematodes). One of about 300 Australian species in the order Odonata.

The Eastern Billabongfly (Austroagrion watsoni) is a damselfly. The order of primitive insects known as the Odonata is divided into two sub-orders — the damselflies (Zygoptera) and the dragonflies proper (Epiproctophora or Anisoptera).

Scarlet Perchers (Diplacodes haematodes). After mating some dragonflies remain joined and egg-laying is completed in tandem. Dragonfly females lay from 400 to 2000 eggs (depending on species).

A newly-emerged adult dragonfly (the brown ‘shell’ of the larvae — or exuvia — can be seen below). The adult has taken about an hour to emerge, but will then only stay around long enough for its wings to dry. Adults usually live from one to three months.

Gold-fronted Riverdamsel (Pseudagrion aureofrons).

Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum).

Red and Blue Damsel (Xanthagrion erythroneurum).

Barry Kenway and Rod Hobson enjoying some time in the bush. Where are those rockmasters?

All very nice, but what about the elusive rockmasters? In the end we found two species — the Arrowhead and the Sapphire Rockmaster. There are only five species of these large damselflies in Australia.

It was a challenge and a joy trying to capture images of these dazzling blue jewels as they patrolled their territories.

Sapphire Rockmaster (Diphlebia coerulescens).

Arrowhead Rockmaster (Diphlebia nymphoides).