Blue-spotted hawker
| Blue-spotted hawker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female | |
.jpg) | |
| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Aeshnidae |
| Genus: | Adversaeschna Watson, 1992[2] |
| Species: | A. brevistyla |
| Binomial name | |
| Adversaeschna brevistyla | |
 | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
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The blue-spotted hawker (Adversaeschna brevistyla) is the only known species of dragonfly of the genus Adversaeschna in the family Aeshnidae.[5][4][6] They are also known as the Lancer Dragonfly.[1] Their scientific name was formerly Aeschna brevistyla but was relatively recently changed to be Adversaeschna brevistyla [7]
Appearance
The blue-spotted hawker is a large dragonfly with a pair of pale stripes on either side of the thorax. At the base of the thorax, they have two symmetrical bright-blue stripes. The fore-edges of the wings are a pale orange with the color ending at the pterostigma, which is a reddish-brown. [7] Mature males have blue eyes whilst females have brown eyes.
Distribution and Habitat
The blue-spotted hawker is widespread across Australia, New Zealand and some Pacific Islands.[5]
It may be found near ponds and marshes as well as vegetation far from water.[5] It prefers still water but may also be found along calm streams.[7]
Conservation Status
As of 2019, they were marked as least concern in their risk of being threatened. [1]
Etymology
The genus name Adversaeschna combines the Latin adversus ("opposite" or "set apart") with -aeschna, a suffix commonly used for dragonflies associated with the Aeshna group. The name refers to the isolated taxonomic position of this genus.[2][8]
The species name brevistyla is derived from the Latin brevis ("short") and stylus ("stake" or "pointed instrument"), referring to the short appendages, historically referred to as styli.[3][8]
Gallery
Female side view.jpg)
Female.jpg)
Male.jpg)
Male body detail.jpg)
Male terminal abdominal appendages.jpg)
Female ovipositing, depositing her eggs in a dam_(1917)_(20194232190).jpg)
Larva.jpg)
Female wings.jpg)
Male wings
References
- 1 2 3 Rowe, R.; Marinov, M. (2020). "Adversaeschna brevistyla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T197095A83372228. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T197095A83372228.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- 1 2 Watson, J.A.L. (1992). "The affinities of Aeshna brevistyla (Rambur) (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae)". Odonatologica. 21 (4): 453–471 [470] – via natuurtijdschriften.nl.
- 1 2 Rambur, Jules (1842). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Névroptères (in French). Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. pp. 534 [205] – via Gallica.
- 1 2 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama.
- 1 2 3 Daley, Elizabeth (2007). Wings: An introduction to Tasmania's winged insects. Riffles Pty Ltd.
- ↑ "Species Adversaeschna brevistyla (Rambur, 1842)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- 1 2 3 Chew, Peter (2009-01-21). "Blue-spotted Hawker - Adversaeschna brevistyla". Brisbane Insects and Spiders. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- 1 2 Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
