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Multi-spotted Darner | Austroaeschna multipunctata |
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Austroaeschna multipunctata Face
Image: 540×480, 47KB
Date & Time: 10 February 2008 17:30
Location: Gembrook
Multi-spotted Darner Thorax
Image: 640×512, 55KB
Date & Time: 28 January 2008 9:15
Location: Alpine National Park
Male Austroaeschna multipunctata
Image: 640×640, 79KB
Date & Time: 2 February 2007 11:00
Location: Mt Donna Buang
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These are mostly dark brown dragonflies with many pale yellow (squiggly line) markings
on the thorax and repeating pale patterns along the abdomen.
They are reasonably large, with a wingspan of about 8cm and length (head to tail) of about 6cm.
Females have a thicker and more evenly thick abdomen compared to the male.
Their eyes can be blue or brown.
This dragonfly species is widespread in the far south-eastern corner of Australia,
mainly in the hills and forests of eastern Victoria into southern New South Wales,
but its not particularly common.
I have observed them from fairly low altitudes at Wilsons Promontory to
the heights of the Mt Buffalo plateau at around 1300m.
Austroaeschna multipunctata are very similar to Austroaeschna parvistigma,
the most notable identifiable feature is the latter has yellow "knee joints"
(small yellow spots at the ends of the middle and rear femurs.
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Austroaeschna multipunctata Face
Multi-spotted Darner Thorax
Male Austroaeschna multipunctata