Diplacodes haematodes

Identification: Body length 30-33 mm. Wingspan 52-59 mm. Mature male has bright-red abdomen, thorax and head, including the eyes, with few additional markings; wings clear, but hindwings have broad, cloudy brownish-yellow bases. Young male sandy-brown, often with a row of black markings along centre top of abdomen and a dark line on side near base. Dark markings gradually obscured by red as male ages. Female sandy brown, abdomen becoming dull orange with age; top of abdomen has central narrow line that expands at the rear of each segment; side of abdomen has two parallel rows of dark streaks, upper row thicker. Wings clear, but with cloudy brownish tips. Male and female have two small, dark spots low down on side of thorax. Male abdomen in top view evenly tapers from base.

Distribution in SEQ: Widespread. Very common.

Habitat: Common along streams and rivers, and less frequent at standing waters. Adults disperse widely and are often found far from water.

Notes: Frequently perches on the ground or low objects. Females lay eggs while in tandem with males.

Similar local species: Wandering Percher (Diplacodes bipunctata), Black-faced Percher (Diplacodes melanopsis) and Red Arrow (Rhodothemis lieftincki), particularly young males and females of these three species; L-spot Basker (Aethriamanta nymphaeae), Pygmy Percher (Nannodiplax rubra), and Square-spot Basker (Aethriamanta circumsignata).