Austroaeschna multipunctata

Multi-spotted Darner at Alpine, NSW

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5 comments

   8 Aug 2024
I'm not confident to distinguish between A. obscura and A. multipunctata from that photo. Both could potentially be in this location. I'm leaning towards A. obscura.
   9 Aug 2024
I've added a new photo.
   11 Aug 2024
I'm not convinced this is an Austroaeschna obscura. On the basis of which characteristics did you come to this conclusion?
   11 Aug 2024
@JanHartog I spent quite a long time comparing against both A. obscura and A. multipunctata. It's hard, I will agree, to differentiate with teh one angle and it unfortunately being a further away shot.

The defining feature is "Anterodorsal spots on abdominal terga 3 and 4 generally much reduced or absent, and on 5-7, lacking". vs for multipunctata: "Anterodorsal spots on abdominal terga 3 and 4 generally well
developed, and on 5-7, usually detectable"

To me, there's some hints of maybe 'reflections' in those spots on 6 and 7 and that's it. 4 there's maybe a reflection, or maybe it's something just greatly reduced from the size of 3, which fits more with obscura.

The terga numbering of the abdomenal sections is listed here: http://azdragonfly.org/external-anatomy.

To get an idea of what I'm looking at, compare multipunctata: Austroaeschna multipunctata (Multi-spotted Darner) and obscura: https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/202008587 looking at those abdomenal segements. The top view is the easiest to pick it up first.

Is there reasons you're thinking multipunctata?
   22 Feb 2025
Updating ID to agree with Reiner on iNat. @JanHartog if you get an ID from iNaturalist, it's useful if you can mention that on here. Thanks! :-)

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 11 Jan 2024 05:24 AM Recorded on
  • JanHartog Recorded by
  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size

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