Eusynthemis aurolineata (Tillyard, 1913)

VARIABLE TIGERTAIL

Family Synthemistidae

A male Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale NSW on December 31st 2012.

The Variable Tigertail is the dragonfly from the genus Eusynthemis that you are most likely to find along the small mountain creeks in the Ebor to Deer Vale area of NE NSW. It usually has a yellow patch on top of its synthorax and the lateral stripe is hardly constricted compared to the lateral stripe found on the other Tigertails of this genus found in this area.

A male Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale on November 10th 2014.

A male Variable Tigertail at Spring Creek Ebor NSW on January 25th 2015.

Anal appendages of a male Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale on November 28th 2014.

A male Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale on November 10th 2014.

Face of a teneral male Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale NSW on November 28th 2014.

A female Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale NSW on November 27th 2013.

A female Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale NSW on December 12th 2012.

A female Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale NSW on November 28th 2014.

A pair of Variable Tigertails mating in flight at Deer Vale NSW on January 17th 2013.

A male Variable Tigertail guarding a female which is laying eggs at Deer Vale NSW on November 29th 2014.

Notice the lack of a pale dorsal patch on the synthorax of this female Variable Tigertail at Deer Vale NSW on January 17th 2013.

I was fortunate to come across a female Variable Tigertail at a tiny creek flowing through a swamp. She was laying eggs by stabbing her abdomen vertically downwards into very shallow water. A male was hovering nearby noncontact guarding her.

A female Variable Tigertail laying eggs in a spring at Deer Vale NSW on January 6th 2015.