Hemianax papuensis (Burmeister, 1839)

AUSTRALIAN EMPEROR

Family Aeshnidae

A male Australian Emperor at Meldrum (near Deer Vale) NSW on 4th December 2011.

A female Australian Emperor at Deer Vale NSW on February 6th 2014.

The Australian Emperor dragonfly is commonly seen in many parts of Australia early to late in the season. I have seen it flying in scrub near the saltwater Lake Thetis in W A, over dams in Deer Vale NSW and in Kilmore Victoria, as well as along the edge of Manning Lake near Fremantle in WA and mating there in mid May.

This is a large Dragonfly which looks mostly brown (although you may notice the yellow patch at the end of its abdomen while it is flying) as it almost endlessly patrols an area of bush or water. However, if you manage to see one standing still you can see the yellow and brown patterning on the abdomen and its lovely greenish eyes. It also has the inverted black T shaped mark on its pale yellow frons. The leading marginal vein on both wings is yellow and the pterostigmas are brown.

A male Australian Emperor flying at Deer Vale NSW, on January 14th 2015.

An Australian Emperor flying at Deer Vale NSW, on October 3rd 2014.

Australian emperors laying eggs in a dam in Deer Vale on October 3rd 2014.

Australian emperors laying eggs in a dam in Deer Vale on February 24th 2014.

The male Australian emperor usually guards the female while she lays eggs. On October 1st 2014 at a dam in Deer Vale NSW, I counted at least 8 pairs of Australian Emperors laying eggs in tandem as well as some females laying eggs unaccompanied.

Many Australian emperors were laying eggs in a dam at Deer Vale NSW on October 1st 2014.

Australian emperors laying eggs in a dam in Deer Vale on October 3rd 2014.