List of Odonata species of Australia Facts for Kids

The Alpine darner, a type of dragonfly.

Australia is home to many amazing insects, including a wide variety of damselflies and dragonflies. These insects are often seen flying around water, like rivers, lakes, and ponds. They are known for their beautiful wings and bright colors.

This article shares some of the different kinds of damselflies and dragonflies found in Australia. Scientists group them into two main types: damselflies (called Zygoptera) and dragonflies (called Anisoptera). Within these groups, they are further organized into families and then genera (groups of similar species) and species (specific types of animals).

Damselflies (Zygoptera)

Damselflies are usually smaller and more slender than dragonflies. When they rest, most damselflies hold their wings together over their back.

Coenagrionidae

This is a large family of damselflies, often called "narrow-winged damselflies." Many of them are blue or green.

The Blue slim is a delicate damselfly.
Pygmy wisps are some of the smallest damselflies.
The Red-tipped shadefly has a bright red tip on its body.
Common bluetails are found in many places across Australia.
Blue riverdamsels often live near rivers.

Hemiphlebiidae

This family includes a very special damselfly.

The Ancient greenling is a rare and unique damselfly, sometimes called a "living fossil" because it looks very similar to ancient damselflies.

Isostictidae

These damselflies are often called "pinflies" or "wiretails" because of their slender bodies.

Northern pondsitter and Eastern pondsitter are examples of these delicate insects.
The Slender wiretail is known for its very thin body.

Lestidae

Members of this family are often called "spreadwings" because they hold their wings slightly open when resting.

The Blue ringtail is a common and colorful spreadwing.
Dusky spreadwings are found in many parts of Australia.

Lestoideidae

This family includes some larger, more robust damselflies.

Sapphire rockmasters are beautiful damselflies often found near rocky streams.
Common bluestreaks are also part of this family.

Megapodagrionidae

These damselflies are often called "flatwings" because they tend to rest with their wings flattened out.

Common flatwings are frequently seen.
The Alpine flatwing lives in cooler, mountainous areas.

Platycnemididae

This family includes the "threadtails," known for their very thin bodies.

Orange threadtails are one of the many colorful species in this group.

Synlestidae

These are often called "whitetips" or "needles."

The Pretty relict is a unique species.
Bronze needles have a metallic shine.

Dragonflies (Anisoptera)

Dragonflies are usually larger and stronger fliers than damselflies. When they rest, they hold their wings out to the sides, like an airplane.

Aeshnidae

This family includes large, powerful dragonflies often called "hawkers" or "darners." They are very fast fliers.

The Blue-spotted hawker is found in many coastal areas.
Australian emperors are among the largest dragonflies in Australia and are found almost everywhere.
Lesser duskhawkers are active around dusk.

Austrocorduliidae

These are often called "hawks" or "mystics."

The Nighthawk is known for flying at night.
Sydney hawks are found near Sydney.

Austropetaliidae

This family includes "redspots" and "petaltails."

The Tasmanian redspot is found only in Tasmania.
Waterfall redspots live near waterfalls.

Brachytronidae

This family includes "darners."

The Wide-faced darner is an example from this group.

Cordulephyidae

These are known as "shutwings."

The Common shutwing is found in eastern Australia.

Corduliidae

This family includes "emeralds" and "tigerhawks."

The Tau emerald is very common and widespread across Australia.
Eastern swamp emeralds live in swampy areas.

Gomphidae

These dragonflies are often called "clubtails" or "hunters" because of the shape of their tails.

Southern dragons are found in many parts of Queensland and New South Wales.

The Yellow-striped hunter, Austrogomphus guerini.

The Yellow-striped hunter is a well-known species.
Southern vicetails are found along the coast.

Gomphomacromiidae

This family includes "urflies."

The Magnificent urfly is a striking species.

Libellulidae

This is the largest family of dragonflies, often called "skimmers" or "perchers." They are very diverse in size and color.

Square-spot baskers are found in northern Australia.
The Black knight is a dark and impressive dragonfly.
Wandering perchers and Scarlet perchers are very common and can be seen almost anywhere in Australia.
The Wandering glider is famous for migrating long distances across oceans.
Graphic flutterers have unique patterns on their wings.

Male common glider - Darwin

The Common glider is another species known for its gliding flight.
The Red baron is a bright red dragonfly.

Lindeniidae

This family includes "tigers."

The Australian tiger is a large and powerful dragonfly.

Macromiidae

These are known as "cruisers."

The Australian cruiser is a fast-flying dragonfly.

Petaluridae

This family contains some of the largest and most ancient dragonflies, often called "petaltails."

The South-eastern petaltail is one of the largest dragonflies in the world.
The Giant petaltail is also very large.

Pseudocorduliidae

These are known as "mistflies."

The Circle-tipped mistfly is an example from this group.

Synthemistidae

This family includes "tigertails" and "spotwings."

The Twinspot tigertail is a distinctive species.
Southern tigertails are found in southern Australia.

Telephlebiidae

This family includes many types of "darners" and "evening darners."

The Lesser Tasmanian darner Austroaeschna hardyi.

The Alpine darner lives in the Australian Alps.
The Lesser Tasmanian darner is found in Tasmania.
Eastern evening darners are active in the evenings.

List of Odonata species of Australia facts for kids

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