Austroaeschna unicornis (Martin, 1901)

UNICORN DARNER

Family Telephlebiidae

A male Unicorn Darner flying over a little creek in Kilmore Victoria on March 29th 2011.

There are 2 subspecies of Austroaeschna unicornis in Australia. Both the Unicorn Darner that I saw in Victoria and the one near Ebor in NSW were of the subspecies Austroaeschna unicornis unicornis. The other subspecies A unicornis pinheyi is found in Queensland.

The anterior lateral stripe on the synthorax of the subspecies Austroaeschna unicornis unicornis is an uneven constricted line unlike the same lateral stripe on a unicornis pinheyi which is a straight line. The pattern on segment 8 of the male Austroaeschna unicornis unicornis also distinguishes it from the other subspecies.

Markings on abdominal segment 8 and the constricted lateral stripe on the synthorax on a male Unicorn Darner - Austroaeschna unicornis unicornis.

Side view of a male Unicorn Darner - Austroaeschna unicornis unicornis at Kilmore March 29th 2011.

A male Unicorn Darner flying over Kangaroo Creek near Ebor NSW March 1st 2015.

Since seeing a Unicorn Darner along the little creek adjacent to the town of Kilmore in Victoria, I had kept an eye out for this species in NE NSW. It took almost 4 years to find one, but my luck was in when we stopped at a little creek (Kangaroo Creek) on the way to the Cathedral Rock National Park. This Darner came flying low over the water and then flew up and down a short length of the creek a few times before disappearing. I could see it was different to the 3 Darners that I usually see in this area by the distinct markings on its synthorax.

The 3 Darners I usually see around the Ebor to Dorrigo area of NSW are the Sigma Darner - Austoaeschna sigma, the Swamp Darner - Austroaeschna parvistigma, and the Forest Darner - Austroaeschna pulchra.