Spinaeschna tripunctata (Martin, 1901) SOUTHERN CASCADE DARNER Family Telephlebiidae
I was very happy to be able to access the Blicks River at Dundurrabin via a private property in 2016. I was hoping to see the Northern Riffle Darner – Notoaeschna geminata – so was excited to spot a largish dragonfly land at the edge of the path going down to the river. I knew it was different to any of the darners that I had seen before, but was not sure which darner it actually was. Unfortunately it flew off before I could photograph it from the side.
The separated half moon shaped spots on the abdomen
identified it as the Southern Cascade Darner. I was able to return to the river a few days later but unfortunately did not see another one.
I have suspected that the little dragonflies I have seen flying up and down the Rosewood Creek might be Cascade Darners but they are hard enough to see never mind photograph. In October 2021 I managed a couple of photographs which were only just good enough to identify the mystery dragonfly as a Southern Cascade Darner.
