Blue-spotted hawker

The blue-spotted hawker, scientific name Adversaeschna brevistyla, is the only known species of dragonfly of the genus Adversaeschna in the family Aeshnidae.[4][5][6]

Blue-spotted hawker
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Adversaeschna
Watson, 1992[2]
Species:
A. brevistyla
Binomial name
Adversaeschna brevistyla
(Rambur, 1842)[3]

Description

The blue-spotted hawker is a large dragonfly with a pair of blue stripes on either side of the thorax.[7] Mature males have blue eyes whilst females have brown eyes.

Distribution and habitat

The blue-spotted hawker is widespread across Australia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island[8] and some Pacific Islands.[4] Its presence has not been verified in the Northern Territory.[8]

It may be found near ponds and marshes as well as vegetation far from water.[4] It prefers still water but may also be found along calm streams.[7]

  • Female side view
  • Female
  • Male
  • Male body detail
  • Male tip of tail
  • Female ovipositing, depositing her eggs in a dam
  • Larva
  • Female wings
  • Male wings

References
  1. Rowe, R. & Marinov, M. (2013). "Aeshna brevistyla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T197095A2479980. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T197095A2479980.en.
  2. Watson, J.A.L. (1992). "The affinities of Aeshna brevistyla (Rambur) (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae)". Odonatologica. 21 (4): 453–471 [470] – via natuurtijdschriften.nl.
  3. Rambur, Jules (1842). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Névroptères (in French). Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. pp. 534 [205] – via Gallica.
  4. Daley, Elizabeth (2007). Wings: An introduction to Tasmania's winged insects. Riffles Pty Ltd.
  5. Martin Schorr; Dennis Paulson. "World Odonata List". University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 12 Oct 2018.
  6. "Species Adversaeschna brevistyla (Rambur, 1842)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  7. Chew, Peter (2009-01-21). "Blue-spotted Hawker - Adversaeschna brevistyla". Brisbane Insects and Spiders. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
  8. "Aeshna brevistyla". CSIRO Entomology. 18 September 2003. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
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