Aethriamanta nymphaeae
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
Aethriamanta nymphaeae is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, commonly known as the L-spot basker. It inhabits lagoons ponds and swamps across northern Australia. The L-spot basker Aethriamanta nymphaeae and Square-spot basker Aethriamanta circumsignata are very similar dragonflies and can be difficult to separate. The common name describes dark markings at the base of the hindwing of each species.
The L-spot basker usually has one dark brown fleck radiating between the fourth and fifth vein (Cu and A) and a small dark patch at right angles which occupies a few cells parallel to the abdomen. These marks form the L shape. A lighter brown surrounds the dark marks and may extend to the arculus and hindwing margin. Light brown marks may also exist at the base of the forewing. In some examples of the L-spot basker, the dark markings may be absent altogether.
The genus name Aethriamanta combines the Greek αἴθρα (aithra, "bright sky") with the Latin amans ("loving"), possibly meaning "loving the bright sky". The species name nymphaeae is named for Nymphaea, the genus of waterlilies, derived from the Greek νυμφαία (nymphaia, "waterlily"... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a L-Spot Basker sighting in Kakadu National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 62nd most-seen of the 76 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a L-Spot Basker in Kakadu National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June and October–April, the lowest months. That is one of Kakadu National Park's driest months, with about 25 mm of rain against 350 mm in January.
Only Kakadu National Park, in our data
Kakadu National Park is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate L-Spot Basker sightings: about 10% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
Same family: Libellulidae
The closest relatives of the L-Spot Basker that you can see in Kakadu National Park (family Libellulidae, Skimmers) are Painted Grasshawk (about 40%), Graphic Flutterer (about 40%) and Common Glider (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the L-Spot Basker is recorded against all the insects logged in Kakadu National Park (6 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.
