Wings colourless except for one reddish spot

The Wandering Percher is a small to medium-sized dragonfly with a wingspan of about 55 mm. Found in Australia, New Zealand and some South Pacific islands. The wings are colourless except for a reddish spot at the base of the hindwing. The male has a bright orange or red abdomen with dark markings along the dorsal line and sides, and the female is yellowish with similar markings. Female has brownish to yellow abdomen with distinct spots along the mid-dorsal line. Pale face. Greenish, yellow, sometimes reddish eyes.

Photo: Robert Whyte

 

The female is sandy yellow. This female was caught in a spiderweb, still alive. They are common dragonflies near ponds in creeks, but as the name suggests, can be found some distances from water. Widespread and common below 800 m altitude. Photo: Robert Whyte

 

 

A closeup of a female Wandering Percher Diplacodes bipunctata. They are relatively quick, often flying sorties from perch positions on the top of grass stems. This one’s flying days were over as it’s caught in the spider web. Photo: Robert Whyte