| New Zealand Bush Giant Dragonfly (Uropetala carovei (White, 1846)) |
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Scientific name: Uropetala carovei (White, 1846) Common name: New Zealand Bush Giant Dragonfly Other names: Carové's Giant Dragonfly. Maori name: Kapokapowai. French name: Order: Odonata Suborder: Anisoptera Family: Petaluridae Wingspan: Up to 130mm. Body size: 79 to 86 mm. Biotope: Damp forests near forest streams or springs. Geographic area: Endemic to New Zealand, throughout the North Island and the western part of the South Island. Flight time: November to March. |
The New Zealand Bush Giant Dragonfly is a large, very dark brown dragonfly with light yellow markings on the thorax and abdomen. Males have petal-like anal appendages. The larvae, which can take up to 5 years to emerge, shelter in a tunnel in the mud at the bottom of the water. On the South Island there is possible confusion with the New Zealand Mountain Giant Dragonfly (Uropetala chiltoni). The latter species has a large pale spot on the labrum while it is totally dark in Uropetala carovei. Furthermore, the femurs of Uropetala chiltoni are completely black while they are brown to yellowish on Uropetala carovei. |
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Since we are here on the South Island we must evaluate the criteria that allow us to decide between Uropetala carovei and Uropetala chiltoni. I don't have a frontal view to see the labrum but the femora of the fore legs appear distinctly brown. So I think we have Uropetala carovei here. |
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Here is a male with its petal-shaped anal appendages (perhaps even better visible by their shadow on the rock). |
André Bon September 2024