Hemigomphus heteroclytus (Selys, 1854)

STOUT VICETAIL

Family Gomphidae

Possibly a Stout Vicetail at the Boyd River Dalmorten NSW on October 13th 2012.

A male Stout Vicetail at the Bellinger River Thora NSW December 3rd 2013.

Southern and Stout Vicetails can be difficult to distinguish from each other. I am still not 100% sure whether the Vicetails I saw at the Boyd River Dalmorten NSW were Stout or Southern Vicetails. They both behave similarly as well, perching on rocks and occasionally making hunting forays over the river before perching once more.

I have tried to match as closely as possible similar photos of each of these two species and placed them side by side in order to help illustrate their differences.

A male Stout Vicetail at the Bellinger River Thora NSW on November 17th 2013.

Southern Vicetail - Hemigomphus gouldii Antehumeral stripe usually separated from collar.

Southern Vicetail - Hemigomphus gouldii Inner edge of male superior anal appendages curved near tip.

Stout Vicetail - Hemigomphus heteroclytus Antehumeral stripe usually joined to collar.

Stout Vicetail - Hemigomphus heteroclytus Inner edge of male superior anal appendages sinuously curved.

Southern Vicetail - Hemigomphus gouldii Southern Vicetail at Deer Vale November 10th 2014.

Southern Vicetail - Hemigomphus gouldii Southern Vicetail at Deer Vale NSW November 10th 2014.

Stout Vicetail - Hemigomphus heteroclytus Stout Vicetail at the Bellinger River Thora December 3rd 2013.

Stout Vicetail - Hemigomphus heteroclytus Stout Vicetail at the Bellinger River Thora NSW December 3rd 2013.