Anax guttatus (Burmeister, 1839)

(Fig. 45)

Aeschna guttatus Burmeister, 1839: 840; Anax magnus Rambur, 1842; Anax gibbosulus (nec Rambur?) Hagen, 1867; Anax goliathus Fraser, 1922 .

Distribution (Fig. 44). This species is known from the whole Oriental biogeographic region, from Papua New Guinea, the north of Australia and most South-West Pacific islands (Tsuda 2000), as well as from Tahiti (Paulian 1998). In New Caledonia, we collected it in the Pocquereux valley (La Foa municipality) and in the Nakutakoin swamp in Dumbéa. Several specimens collected in Nouméa are represented in the ONNC collection. The two Anax species ( A. guttatus and A. gibbolosus) are so similar that Paulian (1998) suggested that they might be only just two extreme forms of the same species.

Habitat. This species reproduces in standing water, including brackish sites (Theischinger & Hawking 2006).

Biology and behaviour. The larva was partially illustrated by Theischinger & Hawking (2006). Its habits are similar to A. gibbosulus .

Status. Lacking sufficient information about its status in New Caledonia, we rank A. guttatus as DD.