Hemicordulia tau (Selys, 1871)

TAU EMERALD

Family Hemicorduliidae

A male Tau Emerald flying at Deer Vale NSW on November 13th 2012.

The Tau Emerald is a widespread species in Australia and like the Australian Emerald, it spends most of its time flying. In W A I saw a Tau Dragonfly flying over Lake Thetis which is a salt lake. Notice that the Tau Emerald has a black inverted T shape on its face. For a comparison of abdominal markings on the Australian and Tau Emeralds go to the Australian Emerald page.

A male Tau emerald at Deer Vale NSW on December 7th 2014

A male Tau Emerald flying at Deer Vale NSW on January 25th 2011. Photo by Ben Coy..

The male Tau Emerald has undulating superior anal appendages.

Notice the undulating superior anal appendages on this male Tau Emerald at Deer Vale NSW on December 19th 2014.

Side view of a male Tau Emerald at Deer Vale NSW on December 19th 2014.

A female Tau Emerald at Cervantes WA on May 13th 2011.

A pair of Tau Emeralds mating at Deer Vale NSW on October 1st 2014.

A mating pair of Tau Emeralds flying over a dam at Meldrum near Deer Vale NSW on January 17th 2015.