Tramea loewii Kaup in Brauer, 1866

(Fig. 103)

Tramea l̂wii Brauer, 1866: 563; Tramea tillyardi Lieftinck, 1942.

Distribution (Fig. 104). This species’ range covers eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia (Tsuda 2000). In New Caledonia, the species is known from fewer than 10 localities, but at high population densities, especially in the far south.

Habitat. It occurs in swamps, ponds and lakes on ultramafic soils.

Biology and behaviour. Its larvae were illustrated by Theischinger & Hawking (2006). Adults patrol mostly standing water bodies where they move around widely with infrequent stops on vegetation. Couples fly in tandem above water and the method of oviposition is similar to that described for T. limbata (Corbet 1999). This is a rather unusual behaviour. The tandem pair flies over the water and at selected places, the male releases the female who oviposits by bringing the tip of her abdomen into contact with the water surface, then the tandem reforms and the pair proceed to the next site, and so on.

Status. Tramea loewii is restricted in distribution, being found only in the southern part of Grande Terre. Due to increasing nickel mining in this region, we consider this species as vulnerable in New Caledonia (VU).