Wallum darner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wallum darner
Scientific classification

The Austroaeschna cooloola, also known as the Wallum darner, is a large and interesting dragonfly. It belongs to a family of dragonflies called Telephlebiidae. You can find this special insect in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. It loves to live near sandy streams that have lots of plants growing around them.

Meet the Wallum Darner!

Dragonflies are amazing insects known for their speedy flight and beautiful colors. The Wallum darner is one of these fascinating creatures. It was officially named by a scientist named Günther Theischinger in 1991. This dragonfly is a unique part of Australia's wildlife.

What Does the Wallum Darner Look Like?

The Wallum darner is mostly dark brown or black. It also has cool blue markings that stand out against its dark body. It's a large dragonfly, so it's quite noticeable when it flies by!

Sometimes, it can be a bit tricky to tell the Wallum darner apart from other similar dragonflies. For example, it looks a lot like the unicorn darner (Austroaeschna unicornis), which is found in many places. It also looks similar to the tropical unicorn darner (Austroaeschna speciosa), which lives near Cairns in Far North Queensland. Scientists look closely at their features to tell them apart.

Where Does the Wallum Darner Live?

The Wallum darner has a very specific home. It lives in a special type of habitat called "wallum" country. This area is found in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Wallum areas are usually sandy and have lots of dense plants. The Wallum darner particularly likes streams in these areas. These streams are important for the dragonfly's life cycle, especially for its young.

Gallery

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  This picture shows the wings of a female Wallum darner.

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  Here are the wings of a male Wallum darner. You can see how detailed they are!