Life histories of four dragonfly species (Odonata: Anisoptera) in northern New Zealand

Abstract

Life histories of four dragonfly species were investigated in the littoral zone of Lake Heather, a shallow sand dune lake near Kaitāia in the far north of New Zealand. All four species are self-introduced to New Zealand. Collections of larvae made in seven months from February 2011 to February 2012 were used to infer larval development. Aeshna brevistyla (Aeshnidae), the most abundant species, was semivoltine, Tramea loewii (Libellulidae) and Hemicordulia australiae (Corduliidae) were univoltine and, although difficult to interpret, our data suggest Diplacodes bipunctata (Libellulidae) was bivoltine with autumn and winter-spring generations. Adults of all four species were seen in December and February, T. loewii was also on the wing in late March, A. brevistyla in October and D. bipunctata in November.