Austroaeschna sigma (Theischinger, 1982)

SIGMA DARNER

Family Telephlebiidae

A male Sigma Darner at Deer Vale on January 8th 2015.

Mature male Sigma Darners have beautiful bright blue eyes but all the females I have seen, had brownish eyes. They can occasionally be seen swiftly flying in an a patch of woodland or forest where if you are lucky they may land on a tree trunk. They also frequent mountainous creeks where sometimes they can be seen on adjacent vegetation. I was lucky to spot a female hunting in a small area near our house so I managed to get a few flying shots.

A female Sigma Darner flying at Deer Vale on March 14th 2015.

Face of a male Sigma Darner at Deer Vale on February 1st 2015.

Notice the sigmoidally curved antehumeral stripe on the synthorax of a Sigma Darner at Deer Vale on February 4th 2011.

A female Sigma Darner at Deer Vale on January 30th 2014.

A female Sigma Darner at Deer Vale on January 19th 2012.

Pattern on tergum 8 of the female Sigma Darner.

Pattern on segment 9 of a male Sigma Darner and male anal appendages.

Side view of a male Sigma Darner at Deer Vale on February 1st 2015.

Side view of a female Sigma Darner at Deer Vale at mid-day of January 19th 2012.

A male Sigma Darner at Deervale on 23rd April 2012. Photo by Marg Prior.

A sigma Darner landed on my neighbours hand while she was standing on her verandah. Amazingly she managed to walk over and pick up her camera and get a shot. Her house is surrounded on 3 sides by rainforest with small streams not far away.