Major Group: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Petaluridae
Genus: Petalura
This family is represented in Australia by a single genus, Petalura. |
Descriptive Features: smooth inner margin of labial palps
tibial digging hooks
grub-like abdomen
prementum subrectangular to almost square, flat
ligula strongly produced medially, with well developed median cleft
labial palps with inner margin widely rounded, lacking dentations and end hook
antennae 7-segmented
abdomen elongate, subcylindrical, without any middorsal or lateral armature
all species are very similar to each other
Total length: 45.0 - 63.0 mm |
|
|
.jpg)
|
Petalura gigantea male |
|
Taxonomic Checklist: Species
Petalura gigantea Leach, 1815
Petalura hesperia Watson, 1958
Petalura ingentissima Tillyard, 1908
Petalura litorea Theischinger, 1999
Petalura pulcherrima Tillyard, 1913 |
|
Distribution: E Qld, E NSW, SW WA
Sensitivity Rating: none
Functional Feeding Group: predators |
|
Normans Lagoon, Albury NSW |
|
|
Ecology: Adults are commonly known as 'petaltails'.
Instream habitat: Petalura larvae are semi-aquatic and inhabit vegetated swamps, boggy seepages and stream margins in lowland, upland and rainforest regions. They are found within the mud and silt.
Feeding ecology: Larvae are nocturnal predators feeding upon insect larvae including other dragonfly larvae. Some species with extended larval phases feed at the mouth of their burrow on terrestrial invertebrates such as spiders and cockroaches.
Habit: Petalura larvae are called ‘pit dwellers’ because they construct burrows in the mud. Some larvae live in channels, up to one metre below the water table. There are exit holes open into the water and onto the banks.
Life history: Mating occurs on vegetation. Females lay their eggs into decaying vegetable matter whilst resting on or near muddy ground. It is probable that larvae can survive dry summers by burrowing deeper within the mud, or that the eggs do not hatch until autumn. Adults emerge in October to early December and are present until February. Petalura species are usually univoltine but some species may take two to six years to complete a life cycle with the larval phase being the longest part of the cycle. |
| |
Information Sources: Theischinger 2002, Clarke & Spier-Ashcroft 2003, Tillyard 1909, 1911a, Davies 1998, Silsby 2001, Theischinger & Hawking 2006
Key to Species: Theischinger & Endersby 2009 |
|
|
|
