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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 15, 2020 18:41:34 GMT -8
Queensland Australia is home to what has been described as the world's largest dragonfly: The Giant Petaltail (Petalura ingentissima)(Tillyard,1908). Measuring in at 160mm+ in sheer wing expanse these powerful beasties patrol ponds and rivers in their region just as other dragonflies do all over the world. I have had the privilege of seeing this species 2x in collections over the years and believe me these things are impressive... Below, I offer a photo of a splendid (male). Head to tail (tip) it measured 125mm. ![](https://i.imgur.com/IIYrZ0t.jpg) A second opportunity to see another genuine specimen of this species came up last year so once again I viewed this "giant" in all its glory (below). ![](https://i.imgur.com/B09JlbZ.jpg) I would add of coarse that very few private collections will ever see one of these...
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Post by johnnyboy on Dec 11, 2020 11:25:19 GMT -8
I am fortunate to have a pair of Petalura ingentissima and a pair of the New Zealand Giant Bush dragonfly Uropetala carovei.
Johnny
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Post by trehopr1 on Dec 11, 2020 12:03:04 GMT -8
Could you possibly show us a picture sometime of the two opposing pairs ?
I've never seen the New Zealand species...
New Zealand material (of any kind) is something most of us neither see in private collections nor have the chance to acquire...
I believe I read somewhere that there are only some 40 odd species of endemic butterflies there. There are also I think (several) species of giant "weta" which are all endangered and protected.
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Post by johnnyboy on Dec 12, 2020 9:45:07 GMT -8
Yes, I shall try to post a picture of both pairs together. I am fortunate that a freind of mine has some contacts in New Zealand and lets me have stuff he doesn't collect himself, that is how I got hold of the Uropetela pair. I was given them separately. They both needed repairs and resetting but look good now.
Johnny
Here are P. ingentissima & U. carovei
i.imgur.com/m962s9e.jpg
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Post by johnnyboy on Jul 27, 2021 13:41:30 GMT -8
Here is a picture of my Petalura ingentissima pair and Uropetela carovei as promised Johnny Giant Antipodean dragonflies imgur.com/gallery/7hOHKBw
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