DRAGONFLY
Rhyothemis graphiptera
DESCRIPTION
This dragonfly has beautifully patterned wings, with dark patches contrasting against clear areas of the wings. Like all dragonflies, it has a long body, large eyes and two pairs of wings that allow it to manoeuvre quickly through the air.
QUICK FACTS
• Dragonflies have been on Earth for more than 300 million years.
• They have four wings that can move independently, giving them remarkable control in flight.
• Their enormous compound eyes give them excellent vision.
• Most of a dragonfly’s life is spent underwater as a nymph.
• When ready to become an adult, the nymph climbs out of the water and the adult dragonfly emerges.
• Dragonflies can fly forwards, backwards and hover in one place.
• They are important wetland predators and help control populations of other insects.
WHERE IT LIVES
This species is found across northern Australia and is associated with freshwater habitats. It can be seen around wetlands, billabongs, swamps and other areas of still or slow-moving water.
WHAT IT EATS
Dragonflies are predators. Adults catch small flying insects such as mosquitoes, midges and flies while in flight. Their young, called nymphs, live underwater and hunt other small aquatic animals.
PETE'S PHOTO STORY
Dragonflies rarely stay still for long, so photographing them takes patience. I watched this one repeatedly flying off and returning to its perch. Eventually I was able to capture it with its patterned wings fully displayed against the soft green background. The light passing through the wings revealed details and patterns that are easy to miss when you see a dragonfly darting past.