Dragonflies - The Acrobatic Jewels of the waterways

More than 300 different species of Dragonfly and their smaller cousins the Damselfly, have been Identified in Australia. They live and breed in a large range of habitat, usually not too far from water, habitats as diverse fast flowing rivers to tiny stagnant pools of water, high up in the cool Alpine regions 

                                                                 Alpine Darner  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

down to the warmer sandy ocean beaches. 

                                                    Wandering Percher on sand (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Some like the Cruisers, 

                                                     Eastern Swamp  Emerald in flight (Kerrie O'Donnell)

fly up and down streams and waterways endlessly searching for food  while others like this Fiery Skimmer 

                                                               Square Spot Basker  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

will fly to a stick or rock and sit there waiting for some food to fly past or another species of Dragonfly to fly into its territory. Most Dragonflies are territorial and will defend their territories by chasing other species away.

                                                            Northern Evening Darner  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

They vary greatly in size from the Northern Evening Darner to the tiny damselfly.   

                                                         Five Spot Threadtail  (Kerrie O'Donnell)
and in a wide range of colours and patterns. In some species the females are very similar in colour to the male , in others they look quite different. 

Sapphire Rockmaster
  (Male)  (Kerrie O'Donnell)


                 Sapphire Rockmaster
                       (Female)
                        (Kerrie O'Donnell)



                                                
Each Dragonfly starts its life from an egg deposited by a female in the water, on vegetation or even on a piece of wood.

                                                                   Dragonfly Larva  (Kerrie O'Donnell)
They live in the water feeding mostly on mosquito lava and other aquatic invertebrates, some for many years, before they climb up the stem of a reed or stick to split their skins and emerge as a beautiful fragile Dragonfly.

Golden Flatwing  Damselfly  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Dragonflies have long aerodynamic bodies and two sets of fragile looking, but amazingly versatile wings which work independently from each other enabling them to change direction instantly  in flight.

 Pale Mouth  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Their two large eyes are set at the sides of their heads so that they can see in almost  360 degrees and their mouth piece consists of a 'beak' like structure with which  they  crush, rather than bite, the insects they feed on.

Red & Blue Damsel eating  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

The males have two appendages, resembling  fingers, at the end of their tail to hold the female while mating.

                      Common Bluetail Damsels in mating position  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

When they mate they form a 'heart' shape or 'Wheel position' and then the female deposits her eggs, often by flipping her tail into the water as she flies over it or by cutting a small slit into the stem of a plant then depositing her eggs into the slit so they won't wash away.

  Metallic Ringtail laying eggs  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Generally Dragonflies only live a for a few months after they have mated and laid their eggs

Although Dragonflies Larvae can live in a wide range of waters like all our native wildlife, they need an environment that is free from pollutants. Domestic waste and chemicals such as sprays can pollute the waterways and kill or deform the lava and the Dragonflies themselves as well as the insects they feed on.  When out in the natural environment, take your rubbish with you and restrict your use of chemical pollutants.

Let’s make sure these beautiful fragile creatures are flying, dipping and weaving along our  waterways for all future generations to enjoy.

 Contributor: Kerrie O'Donnell