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Post by johnnyboy on Jul 27, 2021 13:55:39 GMT -8
Two giant dragonfly species, the giant petaltail Petalura ingentissima, from Queensland Australia and the Giant Bush Dragonfly, Uropetela carovei, from New Zealand, both pairs with repairs by me and in my collection. Johnny i.imgur.com/g8S5QNC.jpg |
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Post by trehopr1 on Jul 27, 2021 14:37:31 GMT -8
Those are two "totally awesome" pairs which you have acquired !
I have to say those are the pinnacle of dragonfly appreciation.
You are very fortunate to have come across those over the years considering where they come from. Impossible to get; unless out of an old collection.
Thank you for sharing these treasures with us.
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Post by johnnyboy on Jul 28, 2021 4:36:15 GMT -8
Thank you for your appreciation. I'm pleased to show them to others. I always feel that there's no point in having an insect collection if you don't share elements of it with other enthusiasts from time to time. Otherwise it just stays a 'museum for one visitor'
Johnny
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Post by livingplanet3 on Jul 28, 2021 5:04:35 GMT -8
Amazing and rare specimens!
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Post by johnnyboy on Jul 30, 2021 15:40:12 GMT -8
I put a male of the tiny scarlet dwarf dragonfly Nanophya pygmaea in the bottom left of the photo as a size comparison.
Johnny
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Post by jshuey on Jul 31, 2021 7:11:58 GMT -8
How do these compare in size to the giant damselflies (Pseudostigmatidae) of the neotropics? I see these regularly in Belize - and they seem equally huge!
John
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Post by johnnyboy on Jul 31, 2021 13:51:46 GMT -8
Keith Wilson published a paper in "Agrion" Volume 13 number 1, in January 2009 called
"Dragonfly Giants". In the article he mentioned that it is likely that Megaloprepus caerulatus has the largest recorded wingspan of any odonate. Dennis Paulson (2006) said that the biggest specimen of M. caerulatus in his collection of 53 specimens has a wingspan of 173mm with a body length of 115mm. However the body weight of these damselflies is quite small because they are so slender. I have a pair of Megaloprepus that each measure about 16cm in wingspan which is apparently quite large
Petalura ingentissima is the heaviest odonate species and is also quite variable in wingspan. According to Jill Silsby in her book "Dragonflies of the World" Petalura ingentissima females can reach up to 162mm in wingspan. Body length 125mm. The pair I have are somewhat less than that, the male around 136mm wingspan and the female 140mm. But their bulky overall build makes them very impressive. The New Zealand Uropetela carovei pair I have are each about 120mm, I have read that they reach up to 13cm.
So Petalura ingentissima is longer in body length than Megaloprepus but doesn't reach as long a wingspan although it is a much heavier insect. P. ingentissima catches and eats Papilio ulysses amongst other insects.
Johnny
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Post by trehopr1 on Jul 31, 2021 20:36:04 GMT -8
Thank you very much Johnnyboy for those impressive details and insights !
Impressive details on Petalura indeed...
The monster of modern day dragonflies.
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Post by panacanthus on Sept 5, 2021 0:03:35 GMT -8
I have only a female of Petalura ingentissima but she's quite large in size with a 165mm wingspan!  |
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Post by bichos on Sept 5, 2021 6:35:06 GMT -8
I have only a female of Petalura ingentissima but she's quite large in size with a 165mm Amazing specimen, thanks for sharing |
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Post by trehopr1 on Sept 5, 2021 9:48:55 GMT -8
Great photograph and an impressive specimen as well !
Thank you for sharing with us.
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Post by johnnyboy on Sept 12, 2021 15:33:52 GMT -8
165mm is a very impressive wingspan, lovely mint specimen too!
Johnny
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