History of changes

Introduction

The Libellulidae is the largest family of Anisoptera. It includes almost 150 genera and slightly more than 1,000 species (Davies 1981; Bridges 1994). The Australian fauna is relatively meagre, with 24 genera and 52 species known. The genera Aethriamantha, Macrodiplax and Urothemis are now assigned to the family Urothemistidae (Bechly 1996).

There are various subfamilial classifications, all following the general scheme laid out in the monumental revisions of Ris (1909–1919), but with much difference in detail. Fraser (1957), Davies (1981) and Davies & Tobin (1985) have provided recent versions. Lately, Bechly (1996) noted the very heterogeneous nature of this family and has foreshadowed its subdivision into several families.

Many genera and species of libellulids found in Australia have extensive ranges elsewhere, primarily to the north; there appear to be no Gondwanan affinities (Watson 1981). Many species were described during the 19th Century without delineation of type material. We have not been able to determine the status or whereabouts of many primary types and our interpretation of them depends very heavily on Ris (1909–1919).

Hawking & Theischinger (1999) give a key to the larvae of 22 known libellulid species (representing 14 genera) from New South Wales.

Following Ware et al. (2007) and Theischinger and Endersby (2009), genera previously placed in Urothemistidae are now assigned to Libelluliidae.

Diagnosis

Adult: eyes broadly confluent; tibiae not keeled; primary antenodal crossveins not defined, most or all secondary antenodals aligned, the distal antenodal often lacking the subcostal component; median space free; triangular spaces differing in fore and hind wing, often greatly, triangle of forewing commonly much elongated across wing axis, that of hind wing recessed to level of arculus in most species; base of hindwing rounded in male, auricles absent; ovipositor reduced to vulvar scale, usually vestigial.

Larva: broad-bodied; labium spoon-shaped, palps broad, covering face, their apposed distal edges setate, usually straight or serrate to slightly crenulate, sometimes markedly crenulate, prementum and palps with major setae, median lobe entire.

General References

Bechly, G. 1996. Morphologische Untersuchungen am Flügelgeäder der rezenten Libellen und deren Stammgruppenvertreter (Insecta; Pterygota; Odonata) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Phylogenetischen Systematik und des Grundplanes der Odonata. Petalura, Special volume 2: 1-402

Bridges, C.A. 1994. Catalogue of the family-group, genus-group and species-group names of the Odonata of the world. Urbana, Illinois : C.A. Bridges xiv 951 pp.

Davies, D.A.L. 1981. A synopsis of the extant genera of the Odonata. Societas Internationalis Odonatologica, Rapid Communications 3: i-xiv 1-59

Davies, D.A.L. & Tobin, P. 1985. The dragonflies of the world: a systematic list of the extant species of Odonata. Vol. 2. Anisoptera. Societas Internationalis Odonatologica, Rapid Communications Suppl. 5: i-xi 1-151

Fraser, F.C. 1957. A Reclassification of the Order Odonata. Sydney : Royal Zoological Society of N.S.W. 133 pp., 1 pl.

Hawking, J. & Theischinger, G. 1999. Dragonfly larvae (Odonata). A guide to the identification of larvae of Australian families and to the identification and ecology of larvae from New South Wales. Albury : Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology Vol. 24 iv 218 pp.

Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 1. Fasc. IX pp. 1–120 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 4. Fasc. XII pp. 385–528 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 5. Fasc. XIII pp. 529–700 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1912. Libellulinen 6. Fasc. XIV pp. 701–836 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1913. Libellulinen 7. Fasc. XV pp. 837–964 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1913. Libellulinen 8. Fasc. XVI(1) pp. 965–1042 in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Ris, F. 1919. Libellulinen 9. Fasc. XVI(2) pp. 1043–1278 in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Theischinger, G. & Endersby, I. 2009. Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata. Sydney : The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW 283 pp.

Ware, J., May, M. & Kjer, K. 2007. Phylogeny of the higher Libelluloidea (Anisoptera: Odonata): An exploration of the most speciose superfamily of dragonflies. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45: 289-310

Watson, J.A.L. 1974. The distributions of the Australian dragonflies (Odonata). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 13: 137-149

Watson, J.A.L. 1981. Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). pp. 1139-1167 in Keast, A. (ed.). Ecological Biogeography of Australia. The Hague : Junk Vol. 2.

Common Name References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn. (Perchers)

History of changes

• Aethriamanta Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [283].

  Type species:

   Libellula brevipennis Rambur, 1842 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Madagascar, SE Asia, Indonesia and New Guinea.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

• Madagascar

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Aethriamanta circumsignata Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1897. Causeries odonatologiques. No. 9. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique (Comptes-rendus) 41: 68-87 [83].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown (MacLachlan coll.) ♂, Rockhampton, QLD.
• Urothemis circumscripta Martin, R. 1901. Les odonates du continent australien. Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France 19: 220-248 [224] [nom. nud.].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ris, F. 1913. Libellulinen 8. Fasc. XVI(1) pp. 965–1042 in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [1031]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lake, lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Riverine, adults vagrant, larva unknown.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Aethriamanta nymphaeae Lieftinck, M.A. 1949. The dragonflies (Odonata) of New Guinea and neighbouring islands Part VII. Results of the third Archbold Expedition 1938–1939 and of the Le Roux Expedition 1939 to Netherlands New Guinea (II. Zygoptera). Nova Guinea n.s. 5: 1-271 [233].

  Type data:

   Holotype RMNH ♂, Lake Sentani, New Guinea.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N coastal
  • Queensland: NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lake, lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Riverine, adults vagrant, larva unknown.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Agrionoptera Brauer, F. 1864. Erster Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Neuropteren. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 14: 159-164 [163].

  Type species:

   Libellula insignis Rambur, 1842 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

India, SE Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and Pacific Ils.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• New Caledonia
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• India
• Indonesia
  • Irian Jaya
• Philippines

Distribution References

History of changes

• Libellula insignis Rambur, P. 1842. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Névroptères. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret xvii 534 pp. 12 pls. [123].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown ♂, Java.

Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

• Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [137, 142]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• New Caledonia
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
  • Irian Jaya

History of changes

• Agrionoptera allogenes Tillyard, R.J. 1908. On some remarkable Australian Libellulinae. Part ii. Descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 33: 637-649 pl. xiv [641].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Cairns, QLD.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Aru, Kei & Solomon Ils, New Guinea and New Caledonia

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• New Caledonia
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
  • Irian Jaya

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Streams, larva unknown.

General References

Lieftinck, M.A. 1962. Insects of Micronesia Odonata. Insects of Micronesia 5(1): 1-95 1 map (as a subspecies of Agrionoptera papuensis Selys, 1878)

Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [142] (taxonomic decision for sub-specific status)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Agrionoptera longitudinalis Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1878. Odonates de la région de la Nouvelle Guinée. Mittheilungen aus dem K. Zoologischen Museum zu Dresden 3: 289-323 [312].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) RIB (Selys coll.) ♂ ♀, Halmahera, Moluccas.

Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

• Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1879. Nouvelles observations sur les odonates de la région de la Nouvelle Guinée. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genova 14: 287-324 [304]

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

History of changes

• Agrionoptera longitudinalis biserialis Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1879. Nouvelles observations sur les odonates de la région de la Nouvelle Guinée. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genova 14: 287-324 [304].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) MCG ♂, New Guinea (as Dorei et Andai, Nouvelle Guinée); RIB ♂, New Guinea (as Dorei et Andai, Nouvelle Guinée).

  Secondary source:

   Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 1. Fasc. IX pp. 1–120 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [144] (re types).
• Agrionoptera regalis Tillyard, R.J. 1908. On some remarkable Australian Libellulinae. Part ii. Descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 33: 637-649 pl. xiv [643].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Cooktown, QLD.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [144]

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Larva unknown.

General References

Ris, F. 1919. Libellulinen 9. Fasc. XVI(2) pp. 1043–1278 in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [1069] (synonymised Agrionoptera longitudinalis biserialis Selys, 1879 and Agrionoptera longitudinalis Selys, 1878)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Austrothemis Ris, F. 1912. Libellulinen 6. Fasc. XIV pp. 701–836 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [738].

  Type species:

   Austrothemis nigrescens Martin, 1901 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: SW coastal

History of changes

• Diplax nigrescens Martin, R. 1901. Les odonates du continent australien. Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France 19: 220-248 [222].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown (Martin coll.) ♂♀, VIC & NSW.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: SW coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp.

General References

Ris, F. 1912. Libellulinen 6. Fasc. XIV pp. 701–836 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [739] (types)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva, biology)

History of changes

• Brachydiplax Brauer, F. 1868. Neue und wenig bekannte vom Herrn Doct. Semper gesammelte Odonaten. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 167-188 [172] [Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249–348 pls 51–57 and Kirby, W.F. 1890. A Synonymic Catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata, or Dragonflies. With an Appendix of fossil species. London : Gurney & Jackson ix 202 pp. erroneously gave Diplax denticauda Brauer, 1867 as type species; Davies, D.A.L. & Tobin, P. 1985. The dragonflies of the world: a systematic list of the extant species of Odonata. Vol. 2. Anisoptera. Soc. Int. Odonatol. Rapid Comm. Suppl. 5: i–xi 1–151 erroneously gave Libellula sobrina Rambur, 1842 as type species; Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. (359) correctly indicated that Brachydiplax chalybea Brauer, 1868 is the type species, although Brauer (1868: 173) placed it as "wahrscheinlich nur eine Abart von D. denticauda m."].

  Type species:

   Brachydiplax chalybea Brauer, 1868 by monotypy.

  Secondary source:

   Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57; Kirby, W.F. 1890. A Synonymic Catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata, or Dragonflies. With an Appendix of fossil species. London : Gurney & Jackson ix 202 pp.; Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.; Davies, D.A.L. & Tobin, P. 1985. The dragonflies of the world: a systematic list of the extant species of Odonata. Vol. 2. Anisoptera. Societas Internationalis Odonatologica, Rapid Communications Suppl. 5: i-xi 1-151.
• Microthemis Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Erster Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 359-416 [367].

  Type species:

   Perithemis duivenbodei Brauer, 1866 by subsequent monotypy, see Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Zweiter Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 711-742.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [358]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

India, E Asia, Indonesia and New Guinea.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT) ; NT, Qld, WA: Sturt Plateau (STU)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• India
• Indonesia
• Philippines

Distribution References

History of changes

• Diplax denticauda Brauer, F. 1867. Bericht über die von Hrn. Dir. Kaup eingesendeten Odonaten. (Schluss.). Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 17: 287-302 [301].

  Type data:

   Holotype HLMD ♂, New Guinea (as Neuguinea).
• Brachydiplax australis Kirby, W.F. 1894. On a small collection of Odonata (dragonflies) from Queensland, with descriptions of five new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 14: 15-21 [18].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♂, QLD.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [363]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Lagoons, larva unknown.

General References

Endersby, I. 2009. Nomenclatural amendments to the current Catalogue of Australian Odonata. Australian Entomologist 36(3): 99-101 (clarified type status)

Schneider, W. 2004. Friedrich Moritz Brauer's and Johann Jacob Kaup's types of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt. Kaupia: Darmstädtter Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte 13: 77-87 (type located)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1973. Odonata (Dragonflies). Appendix 3 pp. 1–7 fig. 1 tables 1–4 in, Alligator Rivers Region Environmental Fact-Finding Study: Entomology. Canberra : CSIRO, Division of Entomology. (biology)

History of changes

• Perithemis duivenbodei Brauer, F. 1866. Beschreibungen neuer exotischer Libellen. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 16: 563-570 [569].

  Type data:

   Lectotype NHMW ♂, New Guinea (West Papua).
  Paralectotype(s) HLMD ♂, New Guinea (West Papua); HLMD ♂, Celebes (Sulawesi); HLMD ♂, New Guinea (West Papua); NHMW.

  Subsequent designation references:

  St Quentin, D. 1970. Katalog der Odonaten-Typen im Natirhistorische Museum Wien. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 74: 253-279.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
• Philippines

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Larva unknown.

General References

Endersby, I. 2009. Nomenclatural amendments to the current Catalogue of Australian Odonata. Australian Entomologist 36(3): 99-101 (clarified type status)

Schneider, W. 2004. Friedrich Moritz Brauer's and Johann Jacob Kaup's types of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt. Kaupia: Darmstädtter Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte 13: 77-87 (identified further paralectotypes)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Camacinia Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [266].

  Type species:

   Neurothemis gigantea Brauer, 1867 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

SE Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Solomon Ils.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
  • Irian Jaya

Distribution References

History of changes

• Neurothemis gigantea Brauer, F. 1867. Beschreibung neuer exotischer Libellen aus den Gattungen Neurothemis, Libellula, Diplax, Celithemis und Tramea. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 17: 3-26 [8].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMW 1470 ♂, Amboina [Ambon Island, Indonesia].

  Secondary source:

   St Quentin, D. 1970. Katalog der Odonaten-Typen im Natirhistorische Museum Wien. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 74: 253-279 [275].

Generic Combinations

• Camacinia gigantea (Brauer, 1867). —
  Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [266] (changed combination as type species of the genus Camacinia)

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Dauan Island, Torres strait.

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Distribution References

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Camacinia othello Tillyard, R.J. 1908. On some remarkable Australian Libellulinae. Part ii. Descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 33: 637-649 pl. xiv [639].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♂, Cooktown, QLD.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

New Guinea, Aru Is. and Solomon Ils.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
  • Irian Jaya

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Larva unknown.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Crocothemis Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Erster Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 359-416 [367].

  Type species:

   Libellula erythraea Brullé, 1832 by subsequent designation, see Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Ethiopian and Oriental Regions, Madagascar, New Guinea and introduced to United States of America. Introduced to United States of America.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL) ; NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA: Cobar Peneplain (CP)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

• Madagascar

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal, W plateau
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Nearctic Region

• United States of America

Oriental Region

Distribution References

History of changes

• Orthetrum nigrifrons Kirby, W.F. 1894. On a small collection of Odonata (dragonflies) from Queensland, with descriptions of five new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 14: 15-21 [19].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Mackay, QLD.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal, W plateau
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond.

Extra Ecological Information

Riverine.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva)

History of changes

• Diplacodes Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [307].

  Type species:

   Libellula tetra Rambur, 1842 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Ethiopian and Oriental Regions, Madagascar, New Guinea, New Zealand and W Pacific.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

• Madagascar
• Seychelles

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal, W plateau
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau
• East Timor
• Indonesia
  • West Timor
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Vanuatu

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Libellula (Diplax) bipunctata Brauer, F. 1865. Dritter Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Libellulinen. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 15: 501-512 [503].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown ♂ ♀, Tahiti (as Taiti) and New Caledonia (as Nova Caledonia, Port de France).

  Type locality references:

  Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 4. Fasc. XII pp. 385–528 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [471] (listed & from Rarotonga as 'Brauer's Cotypen' in the Hamburg Museum; if the locality is correct, they cannot be syntypes).

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and SW Pacific.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal, W plateau
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, springs, swamp, temporary pond.

Extra Ecological Information

Riverine.

General References

Kiauta, B. 1969. Autosomal fragmentations and fusions in Odonata and their evolutionary implications. Genetica 40: 158-180 (chromosome number)

Lieftinck, M.A. 1954. Handlist of Malaysian Odonata. A catalogue of the dragonflies of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo, including the adjacent small islands. Treubia 22(Supplement): i-xiii 1-202 (larva)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva, biology)

History of changes

• Libellula haematodes Burmeister, H. 1839. Handbuch der Entomologie. Berlin : T.C.F. Enslin Vol. 2 805-862 pp. [849].

  Type data:

   Holotype MLUH Germar coll. ♂, Australia (as Neu-Holland).

  Secondary source:

   Calvert, P.P. 1898. Burmeister's types of Odonata. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 25: 27-104 pl. i (re type).
• Libellula sanguinea Macleay, W.S. 1827. Annulosa. Catalogue of insects collected by Captain King, R.N. pp. 438-469 in King, P.P. (ed.). Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia Performed Between the Years 1818 and 1822 with an appendix containing various subjects relating to hydrography and natural history. London : John Murray Vol. 2 Appendix B 637 pp. [15 April 1826] [456] [junior primary homonym of Libellula sanguinea Müller, 1764, an Asian species, Watson, J.A.L. in Houston, W.W.K. & Watson, J.A.L. 1988. Odonata. pp. 33–132 in Walton, D.W. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 6. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service xi 316 pp.].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Australia.

  Secondary source:

   Watson, J.A.L. in Houston, W.W.K. & Watson, J.A.L. 1988. Odonata. pp. 33-132 in Walton, D.W. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 6. Ephemeroptera, Megaloptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 316 pp.
• Trithemis rubra Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [328].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Australia.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 4. Fasc. XII pp. 385–528 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [474]
• Watson, J.A.L. in Houston, W.W.K. & Watson, J.A.L. 1988. Odonata. pp. 33-132 in Walton, D.W. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 6. Ephemeroptera, Megaloptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 316 pp.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales: Bulloo River basin, Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal, W plateau
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau
• New Caledonia
• Papua New Guinea
• Vanuatu

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, springs, swamp, temporary pond.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine.

General References

Hawking, J.H. & New, T.R. 1996. The development of dragonfly larvae (Odonata: Anisoptera) from two streams in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. Hydrobiologia 317: 13-30 (phenology)

Kiauta, B. 1969. Autosomal fragmentations and fusions in Odonata and their evolutionary implications. Genetica 40: 158-180 (chromosome number)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva, biology)

History of changes

• Diplax melanopsis Martin, R. 1901. Les odonates du continent australien. Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France 19: 220-248 [222].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown ♂ ♀, VIC & NSW.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

IBRA

NSW, Qld, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Flinders (FLI), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, NE coastal
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp.

Extra Ecological Information

Riverine.

General References

Hawking, J.H. 1986. Dragonfly Larvae of the River Murray System. A preliminary guide to the identification of known final instar odonate larvae of south-eastern Australia. Technical Report No. 6. Wodonga : Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation iii 64 pp. (larva)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Libellula nebulosa Fabricius, J.C. 1793. Entomologia Systematica Emendata et Aucta. Secundum, Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, adjectis synonimis [sic], locis, observationibus, descriptionibus. Hafniae : Christ. Gottl. Proft. Vol. 2 viii 519 pp. [379].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) 1 specimen, India (as India orientali); ZMK 1 specimen, India (as India orientali).

  Secondary source:

   Zimsen, E. 1964. The Type Material of I.C. Fabricius. Copenhagen : Munksgaard 656 pp. (re types).

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

India to Australia.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal

Oriental Region

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond.

General References

Lieftinck, M.A. 1954. Handlist of Malaysian Odonata. A catalogue of the dragonflies of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo, including the adjacent small islands. Treubia 22(Supplement): i-xiii 1-202 (biology)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Libellula trivialis Rambur, P. 1842. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Névroptères. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret xvii 534 pp. 12 pls. [115].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) RIB Serville coll. 2♂ ♀, Bombay, India.

  Secondary source:

   Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 4. Fasc. XII pp. 385–528 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [468] (re types).

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Seychelles, India to Japan, Indonesia, W Pacific and Fiji.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

• Seychelles

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal

Oriental Region

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond.

General References

Lieftinck, M.A. 1962. Insects of Micronesia Odonata. Insects of Micronesia 5(1): 1-95 1 map (larva, biology)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Huonia Förster, F. 1903. Odonaten aus Neu-Guinea. Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici (Zoologica) 1: 509-554 [515].

  Type species (included species):

   Huonia epinephela Förster, 1903; Huonia thalassophila Förster, 1903 (Förster actually cites both species as 'Typen der Gattung').

Distribution

States

Northern Territory

IBRA

NT: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N coastal
• Indonesia
  • Irian Jaya
• Papua New Guinea

Distribution References

History of changes

• Huonia melvillensis Brown, G.R. & Theischinger, G. 1998. Huonia melvillensis spec. nov., a new dragonfly from Australia (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). Odonatologica 27(1): 99-103 [Date published 1/Mar/1998] [100].

  Type data:

   Holotype NTM ♂, Takamprimili Creek, Pickertaramoor, Melville Is., NT [11°46'S 130°53'E].

Distribution

States

Northern Territory

IBRA

NT: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lotic freshwater, predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Hydrobasileus Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [266].

  Type species:

   Hydrobasileus vittatus Kirby, 1889 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

SE Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Solomon Ils.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Tramea brevistyla Brauer, F. 1865. Fünfter Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Neuropteren. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 15: 975-978 [978].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown ♂ ♀, Sydney, NSW (as Nova Hollandia, Sidney).

  Type locality references:

  Brauer, F. 1868. Neuropteren. pp. 1–104 1(contents) 2 pls in, Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair. Zoologischer Theil 2(1A) Sect. 4. Vienna : Imperial Academy of Science.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Moluccas, Aru Ils, New Guinea and Solomon Ils.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Lathrecista Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [291].

  Type species:

   Libellula pectoralis Brauer, 1867 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

India, SE Asia and New Guinea.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC) ; NT, Qld, SA, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Murchison (MUR), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• India
• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Libellula asiatica Fabricius, J.C. 1798. Supplementum Entomologiae Systematicae. Hafniae : Proft et Storch ii 573 pp. [283].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMK, East Indies (as India orientali).

  Secondary source:

   Zimsen, E. 1964. The Type Material of I.C. Fabricius. Copenhagen : Munksgaard 656 pp. (type).

Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

• Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [129]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld: Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC) ; NT, Qld, SA, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Murchison (MUR), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

History of changes

• Agrionoptera festa Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1879. Nouvelles observations sur les odonates de la région de la Nouvelle Guinée. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genova 14: 287-324 [300].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) RIB 2♂ ♀, QLD.

  Secondary source:

   Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [133] (re types).

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Tanimbar Ils, Kei Ils, Aru Ils, New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago.

IBRA

NT, Qld, SA, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Murchison (MUR), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, predator, swamp, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine, larva unknown.

General References

Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [133] (types)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Macrodiplax Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Erster Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 359-416 [366].

  Type species:

   Diplax cora Brauer, 1867 by subsequent designation, see Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Socotra Is., India, S Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea, W Pacific, United States of America and Caribbean.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL) ; NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Mount Isa Inlier (MII), South East Corner (SEC)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

• Madagascar
• Seychelles
• Yemen
  • Socotra Island

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Nearctic Region

• United States of America

Oriental Region

• India
• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Diplax cora Brauer, F. 1867. Beschreibung neuer exotischer Libellen aus den Gattungen Neurothemis, Libellula, Diplax, Celithemis und Tramea. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 17: 3-26 [20].

  Type data:

   Holotype HLMD ♀ (female holotype found in Kaup collection in HLMD (Schneider 2004)), Ceram.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Madagascar, Socotra, Seychelles, southern Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and W Pacific.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

• Madagascar
• Seychelles
• Yemen
  • Socotra Island

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: nomadic.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond.

Extra Ecological Information

Riverine, larva salt tolerant.

General References

Endersby, I. 2009. Nomenclatural amendments to the current Catalogue of Australian Odonata. Australian Entomologist 36(3): 99-101 (note on type specimen)

Lieftinck, M.A. 1954. Handlist of Malaysian Odonata. A catalogue of the dragonflies of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo, including the adjacent small islands. Treubia 22(Supplement): i-xiii 1-202 (biology)

Lieftinck, M.A. 1962. Insects of Micronesia Odonata. Insects of Micronesia 5(1): 1-95 1 map (biology, larva)

Schneider, W. 2004. Friedrich Moritz Brauer's and Johann Jacob Kaup's types of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt. Kaupia: Darmstädtter Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte 13: 77-87 (holotype found in Kaup collection)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Tillyard, R.J. 1906. New Australian species of the family Libellulidae. (Neuroptera: Odonata). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 31: 480-492 pl. xliv (as Macrodiplax lycoris Selys, 1872)

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva, biology)

History of changes

• Nannodiplax Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Erster Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 359-416 [369].

  Type species:

   Nannodiplax rubra Brauer, 1868 by subsequent monotypy, see Brauer, F. 1868. Dritter Bericht über die von Herrn G. Semper mitgetheilten, von dessen Bruder auf den Philippinen gesammelten Neuropteren und Beschreibung einer neuen Libellen-Gattung aus dem Museum Godeffroy in Hamburg. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 541-558.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Distribution References

History of changes

• Nannodiplax rubra Brauer, F. 1868. Dritter Bericht über die von Herrn G. Semper mitgetheilten, von dessen Bruder auf den Philippinen gesammelten Neuropteren und Beschreibung einer neuen Libellen-Gattung aus dem Museum Godeffroy in Hamburg. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 541-558 [556].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMH ♂, Rockhampton, QLD.

  Type locality references:

  Brauer, F. 1868. Dritter Bericht über die von Herrn G. Semper mitgetheilten, von dessen Bruder auf den Philippinen gesammelten Neuropteren und Beschreibung einer neuen Libellen-Gattung aus dem Museum Godeffroy in Hamburg. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 541-558.

  Secondary source:

   Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 4. Fasc. XII pp. 385–528 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [454] (re type).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

New Guinea.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Nannophlebia Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1878. Odonates de la région de la Nouvelle Guinée. I. Considérations sur la faune de la Nouvelle Guinée, des Moluques et de la Célèbes. Mittheilungen aus dem K. Zoologischen Museum zu Dresden 3: 289-323 [315] [first introduced as a subgenus of Nannophya Rambur, 1842].

  Type species:

   Neophlebia lorquini Selys, 1869 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, Vic: Channel Country (CHC), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD) ; NSW, NT, Qld, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Nannophlebia eludens Tillyard, R.J. 1908. On some remarkable Australian Libellulinae. Part ii. Descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 33: 637-649 pl. xiv [645].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Cairns, QLD.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lotic freshwater, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine.

General References

Lieftinck, M.A. 1933. The dragonflies (Odonata) of New Guinea and neighbouring islands Part II. Descriptions of a new genus and species of Platycneminae (Agrionidae) and of new Libellulidae. Nova Guinea (Zoologie) 1: 1-66 (treated Nannophlebia eludens Tillyard, 1908 and Nannophlebia lorquini Selys, 1869 as separate species)

Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 1. Fasc. IX pp. 1–120 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [59] (treated Nannophlebia eludens Tillyard, 1908 as a subspecies of Nannophlebia lorquini Selys, 1869)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Tillyard, R.J. 1913. Description and life-history of a new species of Nannophlebia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 37(1912): 712-726 pl. lxxiv [22 July 1913] (comparison with Nannophlebia risi Tillyard, 1913)

History of changes

• Nannophlebia injibandi Watson, J.A.L. 1969. Taxonomy, ecology, and zoogeography of dragonflies (Odonata) from the north-west of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 17: 65-112 [100].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM ♂, Millstream Spring, Millstream Station, WA.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gascoyne (GAS), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Murchison (MUR), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lotic freshwater, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Nannophlebia mudginberri Watson, J.A.L. & Theischinger, G. in Watson, J.A.L. et al. 1991. New genera, species and subspecies. pp. 21-51 in Watson, J.A.L., Theischinger, G. & Abbey, H.M. (eds). The Australian Dragonflies. Melbourne : CSIRO vii 278 pp. [49].

  Type data:

   Holotype ANIC 9791 ♂, Baroalba Gorge, 19 km EbyN Mt Cahill, 12°50'S 132°52'E, NT.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lotic freshwater, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Streams.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Nannophlebia risi Tillyard, R.J. 1913. Description and life-history of a new species of Nannophlebia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 37(1912): 712-726 pl. lxxiv [22 July 1913] [713].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Bellinger River, NSW.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Flinders (FLI), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, NE coastal
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lotic freshwater, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Nannophya Rambur, P. 1842. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Névroptères. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret xvii 534 pp. 12 pls. [27].

  Type species:

   Nannophya pygmaea Rambur, 1842 by monotypy.
• Nannodythemis Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Erster Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 359-416 [369].

  Type species:

   Nannophya australis Brauer, 1866 by subsequent monotypy, see Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Zweiter Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 711-742.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [345]

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Himalayas, Japan, China, Indonesia and New Guinea.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Flinders (FLI), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT) ; ACT, NSW, SA, Tas, Vic: Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gawler (GAW), Kanmantoo (KAN) ; NSW, Qld, Vic: Channel Country (CHC), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Mulga Lands (ML), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD) ; NT, Qld: Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Nannophya australis Brauer, F. 1865. Dritter Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Libellulinen. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 15: 501-512 [502].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown ♂, Sydney, NSW (as Australien, Sidney).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Eastern Australia from Cape York, QLD to Mallacoota, VIC

IBRA

NSW, Qld, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Channel Country (CHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Flinders (FLI), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, predator.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Nannodythemis dalei Tillyard, R.J. 1908. On the genus Nannodythemis, with descriptions of new species. (Neuroptera: Odonata). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 33: 444-455 pl. vi [449].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Blue Mountains, NSW.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

South-eastern Australia from north of Tenterfield, northern NSW, to south of Mt Ganbier, SA, and throughout TAS

IBRA

ACT, NSW, SA, Tas, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, predator, swamp.

General References

Allbrook, P. 1979. Tasmanian Odonata. Fauna of Tasmania Handbook No. 1. Hobart : University of Tasmania 84 pp. (larva, biology)

Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [350] (treated Nannophya occidentalis (Tillyard, 1908) as a subspecies of dalei)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Nannophya fenshami Theischinger, G. 2020. Nannophya fenshami sp. nov., a tiny dragonfly from an artesian spring wetland inQueensland, Australia (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). International Dragonfly Fund - Report 149: 1-10.

  Type data:

   Holotype AM K.570443 ♂, Australia, Queensland, Edgbaston Private Nature Reserve [22°43’S, 145°25’E].
  Paratype(s) AM K.393440 - K.393443 4 ♂, same data as Holotype; AM K.393444 - K.383445 2 ♀, same data as Holotype.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Collected from near Aramac, Barcaldine region, QLD

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Desert Uplands (DEU), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater.

Extra Ecological Information

Occurs in artesian spring wetlands dominated by low matforming species such as Cyperus laevigatus and Eriocaulon carsonii and tussocks up to 1m high, including Sporobolus pamelae and Schoenus falcatus.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Theischinger, G. & Endersby, I. 2014. Australian Dragonfly (Odonata) Larvae: Descriptive history and identification. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 72: 73–120 [99] (as Nannophya sp., Fig. 61)

History of changes

• Nannodythemis occidentalis Tillyard, R.J. 1908. On the genus Nannodythemis, with descriptions of new species. (Neuroptera: Odonata). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 33: 444-455 pl. vi [450].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Bridgetown, WA.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1969. A list of the type-specimens of Libellulidae and Corduliidae (Odonata) in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 22: 277-305.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Known from south-western WA, from north of Esperance to north of Perth.

IBRA

WA: Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Esperance Plains (ESP), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Mallee (MAL), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Warren (WAR)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, predator, swamp.

General References

Fraser, F.C. 1960. A Handbook of the Dragonflies of Australasia, with keys for the identification of all species. Sydney : Royal Zoological Society of N.S.W. 67 pp., 27 pls. (Nannophya dalei occidentalis (Tillyard, 1908) accorded specific rank)

Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [350] (as a subspecies of Nannophya dalei (Tillyard, 1908))

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva, biology)

History of changes

• Nannophya paulsoni Theischinger, G. 2003. A new species of Nannophya Rambur from Australia (Odonata: Libellulidae). Linzer Biologische Beiträge 35(1): 661-666.

  Type data:

   Holotype ANIC ♂ (31.1. - 3.2.1968, J.A.L. Watson), Yirrkala Mission, Northern Territory, Australia.
  Paratype(s) ANIC GTAD 12 ♂, 8 ♀ (GTAD = Günther Theischinger Collection), same data as Holotype; ♂2 (2.1.2003, D.R. Paulson and N. Smith. Held in Dennis Paulson Collection), Skull Creek, 5 km S Bamaga on dirt road, Queensland, Australia [10°55'50"S, 142°22'58"E].

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Nannophya pygmaea Rambur, 1842 [misidentification]. —
  Watson, J.A.L. 1974. The distributions of the Australian dragonflies (Odonata). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 13: 137-149

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Arnhem Land, NT, and Cape York, QLD

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Neurothemis Brauer, F. 1867. Beschreibung neuer exotischer Libellen aus den Gattungen Neurothemis, Libellula, Diplax, Celithemis und Tramea. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 17: 3-26 [6] [nom. nov. for Polyneura Rambur, 1842].
• Polyneura Rambur, P. 1842. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Névroptères. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret xvii 534 pp. 12 pls. [127] [junior primary homonym of Polyneura Westwood, 1840 (Hemiptera)].

  Type species:

   Libellula fulvia Drury, 1773 by subsequent designation, see Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Brauer, F. 1867. Beschreibung neuer exotischer Libellen aus den Gattungen Neurothemis, Libellula, Diplax, Celithemis und Tramea. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 17: 3-26 [6]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

India, SE Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and W Micronesia.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• India
• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Polyneura decora Kaup, J.J. in Brauer, F. 1866. Beschreibungen neuer exotischer Libellen. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 16: 563-570 [567].

  Type data:

   Lectotype NMW 1282 ♀, Amboina [Ambon Island, Indonesia].

  Subsequent designation references:

  Lieftinck, M.A. 1960. Notes on the affinity and nomenclature of some Old World Corduliidae (Odonata). Proceedings of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie Wetenschappen Series C. Zool. 64: 410-423.

Generic Combinations

• Neurothemis decora (Kaup, 1866). —
  Brauer, F. 1867. Beschreibung neuer exotischer Libellen aus den Gattungen Neurothemis, Libellula, Diplax, Celithemis und Tramea. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 17: 3-26 [13] (changed combination)

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Duaun Island (9°26'S), Torres Strait, QLD

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Distribution References

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Neurothemis oligoneura Brauer, F. 1867. Ueber den Dimorphismus der Weibchen in der Libellulinen-Gattung Neurothemis. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 17: 970-976 [976].

  Type data:

   Holotype ♂, Cape York, QLD (as Cap York in Nord-Australien).

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Torres Strait Ils & New Guinea.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Larva unknown.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Libellula stigmatizans Fabricius, J.C. 1775. V. Vnogata. pp. 420–426 in, Systema Entomologiae, sistens Insectorum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, adiectis Synonymis, Locis, Descriptionibus, Observationibus. Flensburgi et Lipsiae [= Flensburg & Leipzig] : Kortius. [421] [Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1879. Nouvelles observations sur les odonates de la région de la Nouvelle Guinée. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Genova 14: 287–324 placed stigmatizans as junior synonym of oculata; Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 4. Fasc. XII pp. 385–528 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [578] and Campion, H. 1917. On Fabricius's types of Odonata in the British Museum (Natural History). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 19: 441–450 gave precedence to stigmatizans on the basis of page priority but Selys stands as first reviser which gives oculata priority. However, as stigmatizans has been in universal use since Ris, the reinstatement of oculata would threaten stability and, pending application to the Commission, we here retain stigmatizans].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♀, Australia (as nova Hollandia).

  Secondary source:

   Selys-Longchamps, E. de 1879. Nouvelles observations sur les odonates de la région de la Nouvelle Guinée. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genova 14: 287-324; Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 4. Fasc. XII pp. 385–528 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.; Campion, H. 1917. On Fabricius's types of Odonata in the British Museum (Natural History). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 19: 441-450 (re type); Campion, H. 1917. On Fabricius's types of Odonata in the British Museum (Natural History). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 19: 441-450.
• Libellula oculata Fabricius, J.C. 1775. V. Vnogata. pp. 420–426 in, Systema Entomologiae, sistens Insectorum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, adiectis Synonymis, Locis, Descriptionibus, Observationibus. Flensburgi et Lipsiae [= Flensburg & Leipzig] : Kortius. [421].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♂, Australia (as nova Hollandia).

  Secondary source:

   Campion, H. 1917. On Fabricius's types of Odonata in the British Museum (Natural History). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 19: 441-450 (re type).

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 5. Fasc. XIII pp. 529–700 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [578]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf
  • Western Australia: N coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, swamp, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Adults congregate in patches of tall grassland, larva unknown.

General References

Endersby, I. 2009. Nomenclatural amendments to the current Catalogue of Australian Odonata. Australian Entomologist 36(3): 99-101 (note on types of non-Australian subspecies)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Libellula bramina Guérin-Méneville, F.É. 1838. Pt 2 Div. 1 ch. xiii Insectes. pp. 57-302 in Duperrey, L.J. (ed.). Voyage Autour du Monde, Exécuté par Ordre du Roi, sur la Corvette de sa Majesté, La Coquille, Pendant les Années 1822, 1823, 1824, et 1825. Histoire Naturelle, Zoologie. Paris : Bertrand. [195].

  Type data:

   Holotype IRSNB ♂, Port-Praslin a la Nouvelle-Irlande [near Lombon, New Ireland, PNG].

Generic Combinations

• Neurothemis stigmatizans bramina (Guérin, 1838). —
  Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 5. Fasc. XIII pp. 529–700 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [574]

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Duaun Island (9°26'S), Torres Strait, QLD.

IBRA

Qld: Cape York Peninsula (CYP)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, swamp, volant.

History of changes

• Neurothemis stigmatizans stigmatizans Fabricius, J.C. 1775. V. Vnogata. pp. 420–426 in, Systema Entomologiae, sistens Insectorum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, adiectis Synonymis, Locis, Descriptionibus, Observationibus. Flensburgi et Lipsiae [= Flensburg & Leipzig] : Kortius.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, swamp, volant.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Notolibellula Theischinger, G. & Watson, J.A.L. 1977. Notolibellula bicolor, a new libelluline dragonfly from northern Australia (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 16: 417-420 [417].

  Type species:

   Notolibellula bicolor Theischinger & Watson, 1977 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal

History of changes

• Notolibellula bicolor Theischinger, G. & Watson, J.A.L. 1977. Notolibellula bicolor, a new libelluline dragonfly from northern Australia (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 16: 417-420 [417].

  Type data:

   Holotype ANIC 9866 ♂, 16º40´S 135º51´E, escarpment above McArthur River Station Homestead, NT.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Larva unknown.

General References

Breeden, S. & Breeden, K. 1975. Australia's North. Sydney : Collins 208 pp. (coloured illustration of adult male)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Orthetrum Newman, E. 1833. Entomological notes. Entomological Magazine. London 1: 505-514 [511].

  Type species:

   Libellula coerulescens Fabricius, 1798 by subsequent designation, see Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57.
• Libella Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Erster Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 359-416 [368] [Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Zweiter Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 711–742 included 31 species in a subsequent generic description].

  Secondary source:

   Brauer, F. 1868. Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Zweiter Abschnitt. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 711-742.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [301]

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Ethiopian, Palaearctic and Oriental Regions, Madagascar, New Guinea and W Pacific.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

Australian Region

• American Samoa
• Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal, W plateau
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau
• Fiji
• New Caledonia
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Palaearctic Region

Distribution References

History of changes

• Orthetrum balteatum Lieftinck, M.A. 1933. The dragonflies (Odonata) of New Guinea and neighbouring islands Part II. Descriptions of a new genus and species of Platycneminae (Agrionidae) and of new Libellulidae. Nova Guinea (Zoologie) 1: 1-66 [63].

  Type data:

   Lectotype RMNH ♂, Jayapura, W Irian (as N New Guinea, Humboldt Bay area, Hollandia).

  Subsequent designation references:

  Lieftinck, M.A. 1971. A catalogue of the type-specimens of Odonata preserved in the Netherlands with a supplementary list of the Odonata types described by Dutch scientists deposited in foreign institutional collections. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 114: 65-139 pls 1-7.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine, larva unknown.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Orthetrum boumiera Watson, J.A.L. & Arthington, A.H. 1978. A new species of Orthetrum Newman from dune lakes in eastern Australia (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 17: 151-157 [152].

  Type data:

   Holotype ANIC 9867 ♂, Brown Lake, North Stradbroke Island, QLD.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IBRA

NSW, Qld: Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Queensland: NE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Dune lake.

General References

Arthington, A.H. & Watson, J.A.L. 1982. Dragonflies (Odonata) of coastal sand-dune fresh waters of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 33: 77-88 (larva keyed, biology)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Libellula caledonica Brauer, F. 1865. Dritter Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Libellulinen. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 15: 501-512 [505].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown ♀, New Caledonia (as Nova Caledonia).

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Torres Strait Ils, Lesser Sunda Ils, New Guinea, New Caledonia and Loyalty Ils.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, S Gulfs, SE coastal, W plateau
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau
• New Caledonia
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, springs, swamp, temporary pond.

Extra Ecological Information

Pond, stream, riverine.

General References

Hawking, J.H. & New, T.R. 1996. The development of dragonfly larvae (Odonata: Anisoptera) from two streams in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. Hydrobiologia 317: 13-30 (phenology)

Kirby, W.F. 1894. On a small collection of Odonata (dragonflies) from Queensland, with descriptions of five new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 14: 15-21 (as a junior synonym of Orthetrum bramineum (Fabricius, 1798), originally described from India)

Lieftinck, M.A. 1953. The Odonata of the island Sumba with a survey of the dragonfly fauna of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel 64: 118-228 (distribution)

Ris, F. 1912. Libellulinen 6. Fasc. XIV pp. 701–836 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. (taxonomic decision; regarded Kirby's 1894 synonym unproven)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva, biology)

History of changes

• Orthetrum pruinosum migratum Lieftinck, M.A. 1951. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 64. Odonata of the 1948 Archbold Cape York Expedition, with a list of the dragonflies from the peninsula. American Museum Novitates 1488: 1-46 [35] [first introduced as a subspecies of Orthetrum pruinosum Burmeister, 1839].

  Type data:

   Holotype RMNH ♂, Coen, Cape York Peninsula, QLD.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, SA, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Murchison (MUR), Northern Kimberley (NK), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, W plateau

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, predator, swamp.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine*.

General References

Fraser, F.C. 1958. Antipodogomphus neophytus, a new species of dragonfly from northwestern Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 1956–57: 71-74 (raised migratum to specific rank)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1969. Taxonomy, ecology, and zoogeography of dragonflies (Odonata) from the north-west of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 17: 65-112 (biology)

Watson, J.A.L. & Arthington, A.H. 1978. A new species of Orthetrum Newman from dune lakes in eastern Australia (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 17: 151-157 (larva keyed)

History of changes

• Libellula sabina Drury, D. 1770. Illustrations of Natural History; wherein are exhibited upwards of two hundred and forty figures of exotic insects according to their genera. London : White Vol. 1 30+130 pp. 51 pls. [this work is the subject of Opinion 474, ICZN, and is on the Official List of Works approved as available for Zoological Nomenclature] [114].

  Type data:

   Neotype BMNH ♂, Guangzhou, Zhong Shan University, China.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Watson, J.A.L. 1984. A second Australian species in the Orthetrum sabina complex (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 23: 1-10.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Torres Strait Ils, N Africa, Middle East, S and E Asia, Indonesia and New Guinea.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Palaearctic Region

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond.

General References

Lieftinck, M.A. 1962. Insects of Micronesia Odonata. Insects of Micronesia 5(1): 1-95 1 map (larva of Orthetrum sabina viduatum Lieftinck, 1942)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1984. A second Australian species in the Orthetrum sabina complex (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 23: 1-10 (taxonomy, distribution)

Watson, J.A.L. & Arthington, A.H. 1978. A new species of Orthetrum Newman from dune lakes in eastern Australia (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 17: 151-157 (larva keyed)

History of changes

• Orthetrum serapia Watson, J.A.L. 1984. A second Australian species in the Orthetrum sabina complex (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 23: 1-10 [8] [extra-limital specimens of Orthetrum serapia Watson, 1984 were specifically excluded from paratype status].

  Type data:

   Holotype ANIC 9885, Cooktown, QLD.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Tanimbar Ils, Aru Ils, New Guinea, Solomon Ils, Fiji and Samoa.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• American Samoa
• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Fiji
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond, volant.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Libellula villosovittata Brauer, F. 1868. Neue und wenig bekannte vom Herrn Doct. Semper gesammelte Odonaten. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 18: 167-188 [167].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown ♂♀, Cape York, QLD (as Cap York, N. Austral.) male, Ambon (as Amboina) female.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Moluccas, Kei Ils, Aru Ils and New Guinea.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Flinders (FLI), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream.

General References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1984. A second Australian species in the Orthetrum sabina complex (Odonata: Libellulidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 23: 1-10 (larva keyed)

History of changes

• Pantala Hagen, H.A. 1861. Synopsis of the Neuroptera of North America with a List of the South American Species. Washington : Smithsonian Institution xx 347 pp. [141].

  Type species:

   Libellula flavescens Fabricius, 1798 by subsequent designation, see Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Circumtropical and circumtemperate.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • South Australia: Lake Eyre basin
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau

Distribution References

History of changes

• Libellula flavescens Fabricius, J.C. 1798. Supplementum Entomologiae Systematicae. Hafniae : Proft et Storch ii 573 pp. [285].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) ZMK 1 specimen, India; 1 specimen, India.

  Secondary source:

   Zimsen, E. 1964. The Type Material of I.C. Fabricius. Copenhagen : Munksgaard 656 pp. (re types).

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Throughout tropics and warmer temperate areas. The world's most widely distributed species of dragonfly.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: Lake Eyre basin, N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling basin, N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal, W plateau

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: nomadic, predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, temporary pond.

General References

Hawking, J.H. & Ingram, B.A. 1994. Rate of larval development of Pantala flavescens (Fabricius) at its southern limit of range in Australia (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). Odonatologica 23(1): 63-68 (larval development)

Lieftinck, M.A. 1962. Insects of Micronesia Odonata. Insects of Micronesia 5(1): 1-95 1 map (larva)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

Watson, J.A.L. 1962. The Dragonflies (Odonata) of South-Western Australia. A guide to the identification, ecology, distribution and affinities of larvae and adults. Handbook No. 7. Perth : Western Australian Naturalists' Club 72 pp. (larva, biology)

History of changes

• Potamarcha Karsch, F. 1890. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Arten und Gattungen der Libellulinen. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift 33: 347-392 [370].

  Type species:

   Libellula obscura Rambur, 1842 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

S Asia, Indonesia and New Guinea.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Distribution References

History of changes

• Libellula congener Rambur, P. 1842. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Névroptères. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret xvii 534 pp. 12 pls. [70] [replacement name for Libellula obscura Rambur, 1842].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown ♀, unknown locality (as Ancienne collection Latreille, et sans indication de patrie).
• Libellula obscura Rambur, P. 1842. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Névroptères. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret xvii 534 pp. 12 pls. [64] [junior primary homonym of Libellula obscura Fabricius, 1775].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown ♂ ♀, East Indies (as Des Indies).

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Kimmins, D.E. 1957. Some notes on nomenclature in the family Libellulidae (Odonata). The Entomologist 90: 95-97 [96]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Southern and eastern Asia, Indonesia and New Guinea

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: lentic freshwater, permanent pond, predator, swamp, volant.

Larvae: temporary pond.

Extra Ecological Information

Riverine lagoons, larva apparently unknown.

General References

Ris, F. 1909. Libellulinen 2. Fasc. X pp. 121–244 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [156] (types)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Raphismia Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57 [293].

  Type species:

   Diplax bispina Hagen, 1867 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Philippines

Distribution References

History of changes

• Diplax bispina Hagen, H.A. 1867. Revision der von Herrn Uhler beschriebenen Odonaten. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 28: 87-95 [91] [Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. (370) discusses the priority of Diplax bispina Hagen, 1867 over Diplax thoracantha Brauer, 1867 described from Ceram].

  Type data:

   Holotype HLMD ♂ (Endersby (2009) argues that 'Kaup's handwritten label 'Diplax thoracantha Br. Ceram' on a male specimen in HLMD is consistent with its status as the holotype' — contrary to Houston & Watson (1988) who noted that syntypes had not been traced), Morotai & Halmahera Ils (as Nord-Halmaheira).

  Secondary source:

   Ris, F. 1910. Libellulinen 3. Fasc. XI pp. 245–384 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Cape York, Torres Strait Ils, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and New Guinea.

IBRA

Qld: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
• Papua New Guinea

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Philippines

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Mangrove swamp, larva unknown.

General References

Endersby, I. 2009. Nomenclatural amendments to the current Catalogue of Australian Odonata. Australian Entomologist 36(3): 99-101 (status and depository of type)

Houston, W.W.K. & Watson, J.A.L. 1988. Odonata. pp. 33-132 in Houston, W.W.K. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Ephemeroptera, Megaloptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 6 xi 316 pp.

Lieftinck, M.A. 1954. Handlist of Malaysian Odonata. A catalogue of the dragonflies of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo, including the adjacent small islands. Treubia 22(Supplement): i-xiii 1-202 (habitat)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Rhodothemis Ris, F. 1911. Libellulinen 5. Fasc. XIII pp. 529–700 1 pl. in, Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Brussels : Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. [591].

  Type species:

   Libellula rufa Rambur, 1842 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

S Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and Solomon Ils.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gascoyne (GAS), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Oriental Region

• Indonesia
• Philippines

Distribution References

History of changes

• Rhodothemis lieftincki Fraser, F.C. 1954. Two new species of Odonata from Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 12 7: 145-149 [148].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂, Annan River, Cooktown, QLD.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Kimmins, D.E. 1966. A list of the Odonata types described by F.C. Fraser, now in the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomol. 18: 175-227.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gascoyne (GAS), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: predator, volant.

Larvae: lake, lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, permanent pond, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Stream, riverine lagoon.

General References

Lohmann, H. 1984. Zwei neue Rhodothemis—Arten, mit Bemerkungen zur Systematik der Gattung (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). Odonatologica 13: 119-127 (restricted the name to Australian syntypes, placing New Guinea material previously referred to Rhodothemis lieftincki Fraser, 1954 in the new species Rhodothemis mauritsi Lohmann, 1984)

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn.

History of changes

• Rhyothemis Hagen, H.A. 1867. Die Neuroptera der Insel Cuba. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 28: 215-232 [232] [Kirby, W.F. 1890. A Synonymic Catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata, or Dragonflies. With an Appendix of fossil species. London : Gurney & Jackson ix 202 pp. subsequently corrected the name of the author of the type species from Drury to Sulzer].

  Type species:

   Libellula phyllis Sulzer, 1776 by subsequent designation, see Kirby, W.F. 1889. A revision of the subfamily Libellulinae, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 12: 249-348 pls 51-57.

  Secondary source:

   Kirby, W.F. 1890. A Synonymic Catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata, or Dragonflies. With an Appendix of fossil species. London : Gurney & Jackson ix 202 pp.