Austrocordulia leonardi
Endangered.
The Sydney Hawk Dragonfly is a black and yellow dragonfly with clear wings spanning 60-70mm, and with an adult abdomen length of 35-40mm. The aquatic larvae have a body length of 22-24mm and are distinguished from the similar Eastern Hawk Dragonfly, Austrocordulia refracta, by a uniformly arched abdomen and distinctive abdominal colour pattern.
Eastern Hawk Dragonfly, Austrocordulia refracta.
Wing span 60-70mm.
The Sydney Hawk Dragonfly spends most of its life underwater as an aquatic larva, before metamorphosing and emerging from the water as an adult. Adults are thought to only live for several weeks or a few months.
The Sydney Hawk Dragonfly has specific habitat requirements, and has only ever been collected from deep river pools with cooler water and permanent flow. It is strictly a diurnal dragonfly that requires open, sunlit space. Larvae are found under rocks where they coexist with the Eastern Hawk Dragonfly.