Southern giant darner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Southern giant darner
Male
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Telephlebiidae
Genus:	Austrophlebia
Species:	A. costalis
Binomial name
Austrophlebia costalis (Tillyard, 1907)
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The Southern Giant Darner (Austrophlebia costalis) is a very large type of dragonfly. It is part of the Telephlebiidae family. This special insect is only found in eastern Australia. When an animal is found only in one place, it is called endemic to that area.

About the Southern Giant Darner

The Southern Giant Darner is an enormous dragonfly. It has a dark body with bright yellow markings. Its wings have a brown band along the front edge. This makes it easy to spot.

Where Does It Live?

This dragonfly likes to live near streams. You might find it resting on logs. It prefers places that are shady and cool. These areas provide good hunting grounds and safe spots to rest.

How Fast Can It Fly?

Some people believe the Southern Giant Darner is one of the fastest flying odonates. Odonates are a group of insects that includes dragonflies and damselflies. An old report once said one was timed at almost 60 miles per hour (about 96 kilometers per hour). However, this speed has not been confirmed by modern studies. So, while it's a fast flyer, we don't know exactly how fast it can go!

Gallery

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  Male from below

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  Male head

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  Female wings

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  Male wings