About the Common Glider
Tramea loewii, commonly known as the common glider, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It occurs from Indonesia and New Guinea through Australia and the western Pacific to New Caledonia. The species is recently self-introduced to New Zealand.
Tramea loewii is a medium to large dragonfly with dark patches at the base of the hindwings, a striped thorax, and a red abdomen in males. In 1866, Brauer published the description of Tramea loewii using the manuscript name proposed by Kaup. Brauer noted that Kaup had already assigned names to many specimens sent to him for study, and that he generally retained those names unless they were already occupied.
In 1942, Lieftinck reviewed Indo-Australian populations of Tramea loewii and described the Australian form as Tramea loewii tillyardi. He regarded the Australian populations as closely related to specimens from Ceram and western New Guinea, differing mainly in thoracic colouration and minor differences in the male genitalia.
Tramea tillyardi is now treated as a synonym of Tramea loewii. Tramea loewii is a medium to large dragonfly with a wingspan of about 85 mm and a body length of... Wikipedia →