Graphic Flutterer

Graphic Flutterer

Rhyothemis graphiptera

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Kakadu National Park

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

81 Verified sightings at Kakadu National Park From 2019 to 2026
122 In all 6 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Graphic Flutterer

Rhyothemis graphiptera, known as the graphic flutterer or banded flutterer, is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. It is found across northern Australia, the Moluccas, New Guinea and New Caledonia. Rhyothemis extends from Africa to the western Pacific.

The flight of the genus Rhyothemis is usually fluttering. Rhyothemis graphiptera, a medium-sized dragonfly (wingspan 70mm, length 35mm), inhabits lagoons, lakes, ponds and swamps. The abdomen is dark and the wings are brownish-yellow with dark mottled markings.

The taxon has been assessed for the IUCN Red List as being of least concern, and is noted in the Catalog of Life. The genus name Rhyothemis is derived from the Greek ῥέω (rheō, "to flow") and -themis, from Greek Θέμις (Themis), the goddess of divine law, order and justice. In early odonate taxonomy, names ending in -themis were widely used for dragonflies. The name may refer to the irregularly banded and coloured wings of species in the genus, resembling flow banding in rhyolite.

The species name graphiptera is derived from the Greek γραφή (graphē, "drawing" or "painting") and –πτερος (pteros, "winged"), referring to the coloured wing markings.... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~40%
2 Litchfield National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
3 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
4 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
5 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
6 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Brisbane 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
2 Sydney 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Graphic Flutterer in Kakadu National Park?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Graphic Flutterer sighting in Kakadu National Park on a given day, based on 81 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 76 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Graphic Flutterer in Kakadu National Park?

June

In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Graphic Flutterer in Kakadu National Park on a given day, against about 20% in May, the lowest month. That is one of Kakadu National Park's driest months, with almost no rain against 350 mm in January.

What time of day is best to see a Graphic Flutterer?

Between noon and 3 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Graphic Flutterer sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Kakadu National Park the best place to see a Graphic Flutterer?

Yes

Of the 6 parks where we can rate Graphic Flutterer sightings, Kakadu National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Litchfield National Park (Australia, about 20%) and Lamington National Park (Australia, about 10%).

Where does the Graphic Flutterer sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Graphic Flutterer is recorded against all the insects logged in Kakadu National Park (81 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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