Favoritos de christianperrin

One of 10 exuvia collected from the same pond.

Prementum flat (photo 1), antennae 7-segmented and epiproct parallel-sided and bifid at the tip (photo 3) - therefore Aeshnidae. Labial palps without conspicuous lateral setae (photo 4) and abdominal segments 6-9 with lateral spines (photo 5) therefore Advesaeschna brevistyla.

Photo 1 - dorsal habitus
Photo 2 - lateral habitus
Photo 3 - apex of abdomen, dorsal view
Photo 4 - prementum of labium, inner surface
Photo 5 - abdomen, lateral view

Male, we had been chasing this species in SEQ for many years, particularly at a location inland from Ipswich, was amazed that it turned up beside the pool in our backyard, only third Gomphid species we have seen on our property and by far the most interesting.

Final photo is a panned-back shot of the location, taken from a vantage point a short distance to the north, and looking south toward Kittyhawk Drive. The wrens were in the tiny pocket of weedy messy stuff at left of photo, down-slope.

Meet Ben. His ear tag number is 3238 and he was released around Avalon Rd in May 2020. He's been parading up and down the area between this property and the adjoining one for the last few weeks, calling out for a female. Any female! But with no luck so far. Today, he was at eye level, in a eucalyptus growing on the outer side of the dam wall. So from the bottom of the tree, he was a fair way up. But from the top of the dam wall, he was level with me. I didn't see him at first because I was trying to take a photo of a teddy bear bee. It was only after the bee disappeared, that I turned around and saw Ben looking at me! It's quite an honour to be eye to eye with a wild koala.