Austrogomphus (Austrogomphus) ochraceus (Selys, 1869)

JADE HUNTER

Family Gomphidae

A male Jade Hunter at the Bellinger River Thora NSW on December 3rd 2013.

A pair of Jade Hunters mating at Deer Vale NSW on November 29th 2009.

The Jade Hunter - Austorgomphus ochraceus is very similar to the Yellow-striped hunter - Austrogomphus guerini. The Yellow-striped Hunter has an almost full length yellow mid-dorsal stripe on each abdominal segment 2-9 while the Jade Hunter differs in having very short dorsal stripes on segments 8 and 9. The thoracic markings are also different in that the antehumeral stripe is joined to the collar on the Yellow-striped Hunter but not on the Jade Hunter.

The Jade Hunter is more likely, I find, to inhabit coastal rivers whereas the Yellow-striped Hunter seems to like higher altitude tableland rivers on the Mid-North coast of NSW.

Mid-dorsal stripes on segments 8-9 of a female Jade Hunter.

A male Jade Hunter at a tributary to the Bellinger River Thora NSW on November 14th 2014.

Notice the beautiful Jade green eyes of this Jade Hunter which is no doubt where it gets its common name.

A male Jade Hunter at a tributary to the Bellinger River Thora NSW on November 14th 2014.

A female Jade Hunter at the Bielsdown River Dorrigo NSW on December 17th 2013.

A male Jade Hunter at the Bielsdown River Dorrigo NSW on December 17th 2013.