Tasmanian darner

Tasmanian darner
	Female laying her eggs
	Male
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Aeshnidae
Genus:	Austroaeschna
Species:	A. tasmanica
Binomial name
	Austroaeschna tasmanica; Tillyard, 1916

The Tasmanian darner, (Austroaeschna tasmanica), is a species of large dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae,^[3] which includes some of the world's largest dragonflies. It is found in Tasmania, Australia. The species was first described by Robert Tillyard in 1916 and inhabits streams and rivers.^[4]

Also referred to as "hawkers", the name "darner" derives from the fact that the female abdomen looks like a sewing needle, as it cuts into a plant stem when the female dragonfly lays her eggs through her ovipositor.

The Tasmanian darner is a stout, dark dragonfly with a very dark colouring and light markings. It appears similar to the lesser Tasmanian darner, Austroaeschna hardyi.^[4]

Gallery

Female wings
Male wings

References

^ Dow, R.A. (2017). "Austroaeschna tasmanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T14255899A59256413. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T14255899A59256413.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ Tillyard, R.J. (1916). "Life-histories and descriptions of Australian Aeschninae, with a description of a new form of Telephlebia by Herbert Campion". Journal of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology. 33: 1–83 [49]. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1916.tb00253.x – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
^ "Species Austroaeschna tasmanica Tillyard, 1916". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
^ ^a ^b Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2021). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9781486313747.

[iucn_status_19_November_2021-1] Dow, R.A. (2017). "Austroaeschna tasmanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T14255899A59256413. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T14255899A59256413.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.

[2] Tillyard, R.J. (1916). "Life-histories and descriptions of Australian Aeschninae, with a description of a new form of Telephlebia by Herbert Campion". Journal of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology. 33: 1–83 [49]. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1916.tb00253.x – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[AFD-3] "Species Austroaeschna tasmanica Tillyard, 1916". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.

[Field_Guide_2-4] Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2021). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9781486313747.

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