Zygoptera (damselflies)

Code QO099999

Large, robust damselflies with vivid blue males and sandy brown females in the one Australian genus, Diphlebia . They are found in fast flowing streams. Unusual for zygopterans in that the adults rest with wings outstretched, like anisopterans. Larvae have short, robust bodies with three saccoid gills terminating in a tapered point, generally with long setae. The gills are at least half the length of the abdomen.

NB : A recent guide to the larvae of Australian Odonates (Hawking & Theischinger, 1999) has proposed a new classification system in which the family Amphipterygidae has been changed to Diphlebiidae.

References:

Hawking, J.H. (1986) Dragonfly larvae of the River Murray system. Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation Technical Report No. 6., Wodonga.

Hawking, J.H. and Theischinger, G. (1999) Dragonfly Larvae (Odonata): A Guide to the Identification of Larvae of Australian Families and to the Identification and Ecology of Larvae from New South Wales . CRCFE Identification Guide No. 24., Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, Thurgoona.

Stewart, W.E. (1980) The Australian genus Diphlebia Selys (Odonata: Amphipterygidae) II. Taxonomy of the larvae. Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 75 : 59-69.