Uropetala carovei

Uropetala carovei (New Zealand bush giant dragonfly) is a giant dragonfly of the family Petaluridae, endemic to New Zealand. Its Māori name, kapokapowai, means "water snatcher", alluding to the water dwelling juvenile stage (nymph), which, like all dragonflies, has a long extendable jaw that shoots out to snatch prey.

Dorsal view of Uropetala carovei

Uropetala carovei

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Petaluridae
Genus: Uropetala
Species:
U. carovei
Binomial name
Uropetala carovei
(White, 1846)

Description

Its yellow and black body can be up to 86 mm long, with a wingspan up to 130 mm, making it the largest dragonfly in New Zealand. Males have petal-shaped hind appendages. Uropetala carovei can be distinguished from the similar Uropetala chiltoni, which occurs in the mountains of the South Island, by its all-black labrum (lacking the large pale blotch on Uropetala chiltoni), and its brown to yellowish leg femur segments (which are black in Uropetala chiltoni).[2]

Uropetala carved into the pare or lintel of a traditional Māori building.

Distribution

This species is found throughout New Zealand, mostly in western parts of each island, and especially on the West Coast.[3] They are found in damp areas of native forest.

Ecology

The nymphs tunnel into the soft earth of a stream bank or seepage, where they occupy a chamber half-filled with water for about five years. They emerge at night to seek prey near the burrow entrance. They are sensitive to disturbance so are rarely observed.[3]

Uropetala carovei perching on vegetation

A slow and noisy flier, its diet is smaller insects, including cicadas, which they can eat on the wing. U. carovei is preyed on in turn by rats, kingfishers and even wasps.

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References
  1. [IUCN Red List of Threatened Species http://oldredlist.iucnredlist.org/details/163559/0]
  2. Tillyard, R. J. (1921). "Description of a New Dragon-fly belonging to the Genus Uropetala Selys". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 53: 343–346. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  3. "Bush giant dragonfly | Pare arthropods | Landcare Research". www.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
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