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Baron dragonfly (Hemianax)

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Taxonomic group

Aeshnidae: Hemianax

Diagnostic features

Hemianax dragonfly larvae have a long green abdomen, large eyes and the mouthparts lie flat under the head. There are spines on the sides of the last 3 abdominal segments.

[Hemianax]. Image: Stephen Moore Image
Hemianax. Image: Stephen Moore
[Hemianax]. Image: Stephen Moore Image
Hemianax. Image: Stephen Moore

Typical habitats

Hemianax is an Australian species occasionally found in the North Island of New Zealand, usually amongst aquatic vegetation in ponds.

Feeding

They are predators, ambushing invertebrate prey swimming or crawling though aquatic vegetation.

Indicator value

  • Hard bottom: unassigned
  • Soft bottom: 1.1

The tolerance values (ranging from 0 to 10) give an indication of which are the sensitive taxa (values of 8 or more) and which are the tolerant taxa (values of 3 or less). For more information see: Indicator species

Hemianax are found in stagnant or slow flowing waters, including sites with poor water quality. They have been assigned a low soft bottom tolerance value of 1.1 (no hard bottom tolerance value has been assigned).