Tramea loewii

Tramea loewii
Male in Darwin, Australia
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Tramea
Species:	T. loewii
Binomial name
Tramea loewii Kaup, 1866[2]
Synonyms
Tramea tillyardi (Lieftinck, 1942)

Tramea loewii, the common glider,^[3] is a species of dragonfly in the Libellulidae family.^[4][5] It is found in the Cocos Islands, Moluccas, Lesser Sunda Islands, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Australia, and the western Pacific. Since 2005, Tramea loewii has also been recorded in New Zealand.^[3]

Tramea loewii is a medium to large dragonfly (wingspan 85 mm, length 45 mm). Its synthorax is striped yellowish to brown on a purplish background. Males have a red abdomen, and the last two segments have black markings. Females are a dull brown colour. Dark patches at the base of their hindwings are a characteristic feature of this species; males have red patches and females have brown. Tramea loewii is very similar to Tramea stenoloba which has a darker synthorax, and larger genital dimensions.^[3]

Tramea loewii inhabits a wide range of still waters, ponds and swamps, and may breed many times in a year. In Australia it is widespread except for the far south-west of the continent.^[3]

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  Male common glider has a red abdomen with black markings near the tip
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  Female common glider has a brown abdomen with black markings near the tip
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  Male viewed from the side
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  Female viewed from the side
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  Male face
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  Female face
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  Illustration of male Tramea wing venation
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  Photo of female wings
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  1. Tramea loewii from Australian Insects 1907

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