The alpine darner, ''Austroaeschna flavomaculata'', is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

dragonfly A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threat ...

in the family

Aeshnidae Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies, found nearly worldwide, with more than 50 genera and over 450 species. The family includes some of the largest dragonflies. Description Common worldwide or nearl ...

, that is known to be present in the mountainous regions of

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

and

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. Although the male was first described in 1916, the female and larvae were not described until 1982. ''Austroaeschna flavomaculata'' is a very dark dragonfly with pale markings. It appears similar to the multi-spotted darner, '' Austroaeschna multipunctata'', which is found in small mountain streams in south-eastern Australia.

Gallery

Austroaeschna flavomaculata male front.jpg, Front view of a male Austroaeschna flavomaculata female wings (35053160135).jpg, Female wings Austroaeschna flavomaculata male wings (35053168255).jpg, Male wings

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q581298 Aeshnidae Odonata of Australia Insects of Australia Endemic fauna of Australia Taxa named by Robert John Tillyard Insects described in 1916