Dragonflies and damselflies of Otago
Did you know Otago has seven species of dragonflies and damselflies breeding in the region?
To date, 14 species of damselfly and dragonfly have established in Aotearoa New Zealand. Most of these species are endemic to Aotearoa, meaning they naturally occur and breed here, and nowhere else in the world.
The number of damselfly and dragonfly species established in the Otago Region is seven; all native species but none are regional endemics. A single unverified record for another exotic species needs validation.
Dragonflies and damselflies belong to an order of insects called Odonata, meaning "toothed" and originating from the powerful serrated jaws (or 'mandibles') that these species typically have.
Odonata is an ancient order, with the oldest fossil record of a dragonfly dating back more than 250 million years.
An order is a taxonomic rank used in biological classification to group living and extinct organisms that share similar characteristics.
Taxonomy is the science of classifying living and extinct organisms by arranging them into natural, related groups based on shared characteristics. These groups are organised into different taxonomic ranks.
A genus (plural: genera) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and extinct organisms.
Aotearoa New Zealand has relatively few species of dragonflies and damselflies compared to countries of a similar size, all of which occur at relatively low abundance.
In other parts of the world with a similar climate, most freshwater habitats sustain rich odonate communities, although there are progressively fewer species as one approaches the poles.
Running and standing waters provide habitats for odonates globally. In Aotearoa New Zealand most species typically inhabit lakes and ponds. In running water habitats of Te Waipounamu / South Island there are scarcely any species at all.
While at first glance they look similar, there are several differences when you look closer.
Damselflies tend to be smaller and look more delicate, they have wide-set eyes, and hold their wings close to their body when at rest.
Dragonflies tend to be larger and appear more heavy set, their eyes are larger and close together, and they keep their wings outstretched when at rest.
Wetland, river, puddle, pond – the link between odonates and freshwater is more than just opportunistic. These insects depend on freshwater, and many species are quite sensitive to its quality, so the cleaner the waterway, the more diverse and abundant is its odonate fauna.
To celebrate the insect orders found in Otago, we worked with biologist Samuel Purdie to produce a poster.
Please feel free to share this poster, and you can download and print it out to raise awareness about Otago’s insects, including dragonflies and damselflies.
In Otago we have seven species of dragonflies or kapokapowai and damselflies or kekewai breeding in the region. A species list can be downloaded below.
To find out more about Aotearoa New Zealand’s dragonflies and damselflies, visit the Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research website below or check out the illustrated natural history and field guide by Milen Marinov and Mike Ashbee – the only book of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand.
To contribute observation records on dragonflies and damselflies to a participatory science platform, visit the iNaturalist platform.
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
This website has links to 11 of the 14 species of dragonflies and damselflies established in Aotearoa New Zealand.
iNaturalist
iNaturalist is an online-access participatory science project where you can record and share observations on plants, fungi, and animals, including dragonflies and damselflies, contributing to scientific research and conservation efforts.
