An artesian spring near Aramac, in the Barcaldine region of Central Queensland, is the habitat of a recently classified species of tiny-frosted dragonflies: Nannophya fenshami sp. nov. With less than 30 mm wingspan and bluish pruinose over its thorax and abdomen, this little-fairy creature represents the high concentration of endemic species throughout the Great Artesian Basin (Theischinger 2020).
Gunther Theischinger has known about a potentially new species of dragonfly since 2002 when he received some larvae and one of them seemed to be from Nannophya Rambur, 1842 genus, but some of its characteristics did not match any related species. Theischinger & Hawking (2006) describe Nannophy as a genus of small to tiny dragonflies from southern and eastern Asia to Australia. Only four species of this genus were known in Australia, with at least partly red male bodies and a complete cross-vein system (antenodal) on their back wings. This Genus is part of the Libellulidae family: skimmer or percher dragonflies, an amazingly diverse group in size, shape, and colouration. Yet, all of them present a highly specialised antenodal complex and a rounded hindwing (back wings) base in both sexes. These primitive animals (kingdom Animalia), along with damselflies are invertebrates with an exoskeleton (class Insecta, phylum Arthropods), that belong to the Odonata order. Recognised by their slim and long bodies and their two pairs of thin, transparent wings, adult and larvae odonates are ravenous predators, named after their large teeth-like mandibles. Dragonflies (Anisoptera suborder) are heavier and stronger-flying insects compared to damselflies. Most dragonflies have large compound eyes (30,000 individual optical units) allowing them a nearly 360-degree view of their environment. These hemimetabolous insects have an incomplete metamorphosis between egg-larval aquatic stage and terrestrial adults.
Finally, in 2020, Theischinger received the adult Nannophya specimens he was expecting to classify. The researcher found discrete structural differences between N. fenshami and N. australis. However, he determined N. australis was our new specie closest relative, as the size of their two cross-veins in the cubital space of the hindwing were similar. Furthermore, N. fenshami mature male bodies have a unique black abdomen, covered by pruinescence, except for the red anal appendages. Futahashi (2020) defines pruinescence as a whitish wax on the body and wings surface, which reflects light including UV, producing an iridescent colouration. This trait is important for species classification and is believed to be relevant for mate recognition and male-male competition. Though, the ecological importance of UV reflection in dragonflies remains unknown.
You may be familiar with Peter Pan's story written by J. M. Barrie in 1904, in which there were fairy characters that used pixie dust to enhance their flying ability. With an incredible capacity for independently moving their two pairs of wings, odonates have a vast range of aerobatic abilities (Salami, Ward, Montazer & Ghazali 2019). Nannophya fenshami prunosity recalls the connection between sunlight and air conditions and reflects these invisible -almost magical- forces that allow their tiny bodies to effortlessly flow through the air. Fairy dragonflies sparkle all over the artesian springs and become little twinkle stars on the horizon, taking the diversity of these wetland endemic species to the next generation.
Futahashi, R., 2020. ‘Diversity of UV reflection patterns in Odonata’. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8, p.201, viewed 4 April 2022, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2020.00201/full
Megagolos, 2019. Nannophya fenshami adult from Barcaldine region, digital image, Wikimedia Commons, viewed 4 April 2022, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nannophya_fenshami_adult_from_Barcaldine_region.jpg
Orr, A., Theischinger, G. and Hawking, J., 2021. The complete field guide to dragonflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing, viewed 4 April 2022, https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/publications/09730AustOdonata.pdf
Salami, E., Ward, T.A., Montazer, E. and Ghazali, N.N.N., 2019. ‘A review of aerodynamic studies on dragonfly flight’. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 233(18), pp.6519-6537, viewed 4 April 2022, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0954406219861133
The Entomological Society of New Zealand, 2019. Science Learning Hub: Insect taxonomy, viewed 4 April 2022, https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2840-insect-taxonomy
Theischinger, G. 2020. ‘Nannophya fenshami sp. nov., a tiny dragonfly from an artesian spring wetland in Queensland, Australia (Anisoptera: Libellulidae)’. International Dragonfly Fund - Report 149: 1-10, viewed 4 April 2022, http://www.dragonflyfund.org/images/reports/IDF_Report_149_Theischinger_2020.pdf
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