Common Glider Dragonfly - Tramea loewii (Trapezostigma loewii)

FAMILY LIBELLULIDAE

This page contains information and pictures of Common Glider Dragonflies that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Female, body length 50mm

This dragonfly is large in size. Common Glider Dragonflies can be found on pond or very slow running large area waters. Its abdomen is short and narrow. Its wings are relatively narrow too but very long.


Female

Female Common Gliders are dull brown in colour, with dark brown abdomen tip. There are the brown patterns on hind-wings base. The patterns are slightly different than the males.



We noticed on some Common Glider females we found there were many tiny little brown balls attached under the body, as shown in the above photos. We are not sure what are they. Could it be some kinds of parasite? Please advise if you know what are they.


Male, body length 50mm

The male Common Gliders have red abdomen with black tip. Its hind wing bases are dark red in colour while the rest of its wings are clean, slightly tinted with red.



Males show very strong territory behaviour. The male usually glide within a favorite spot. If the same species male come near, they will drive them away. On day time they usually gliding slowly or chasing each others rapidly.



They spend half of the time flying and half of them time resting. Near evening, those dragonflies will rest on tree top near the water. They prefer to stay on twigs two meters above ground.

Reference:
1. The Australian Dragonflies - CSIRO, Watson, Theisinger & Abbey,1991, p246.
2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, plate 4.
3. A Field Guide to Dragonflies of South East Queensland - Ric Nattrass, 2006, p107.
4. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia - CSIRO, Günther Theischinger and John Hawking, 2006, p296.