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Pilbara Dragonfly (Antipodogomphus hodgkini)

The Pilbara Dragonfly is a small to medium-sized black and yellow dragonfly known from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, where it inhabits rivers, streams and pools. Its limited known records and poorly known ecology make aquatic habitats on development sites important to assess and protect as a precaution. It is a DBCA Priority 3 priority fauna category.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 3.

Seasonal planning

Species-specific seasonal activity, breeding and movement information is not known. Use the following as a planning prompt only, not as a prediction of when the species will be present.

Species timing: Not documented.

Survey planning: Do not use season alone to conclude that the species is absent.

Species-specific months are not known. The general planning row is not evidence of year-round activity.

  • Habitat inspection and works planning: Planning window only. Species-specific seasonal activity and detectability are not known; assess relevant aquatic habitat whenever works are proposed.

Identification: Appearance and size

Available descriptions are brief. Confirm identifications with an appropriately qualified dragonfly specialist where required.

The species is described as a small to medium-sized black and yellow dragonfly with a long tail. No measurements or other diagnostic features are documented.

Identification: Similar species

No features for distinguishing this species from similar dragonflies have been documented. Do not rely on colour or general appearance alone for a definitive identification.

Identification: Field signs

No species-specific field signs are known. An adult dragonfly sighting near water can guide further survey, but does not by itself confirm that the species is present.

Distribution: Known range

The species is reported from the Pilbara, but its distribution within the region is poorly documented.

The species is endemic to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Atlas of Living Australia records show three WA records at two distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -21.6 and -21.1 and longitude 116.1 and 117.1. These ranges do not identify exact record coordinates.

Distribution: WA regions and status

The DBCA priority list identifies the Pilbara region. The species is poorly known, known from several locations and not under imminent threat. No national listing is recorded.

Distribution: Survey implications

The small number of atlas records should not be treated as proof that the species is absent from other suitable sites in the Pilbara. Check current records and site-specific information before works.

Habitat: Reported settings

The Pilbara Dragonfly is associated with flowing and still freshwater settings.

Rivers, streams and pools are reported as habitat. Preferred water conditions, vegetation, substrate and elevation have not been documented.

Habitat: Site assessment

On development sites in the Pilbara, identify rivers, streams and pools within or near the proposed disturbance area. Consider connected aquatic features as part of the site assessment, without assuming that every such feature is occupied.

Foraging habitat: Known information

The species’ diet and foraging locations have not been documented.

Diet, prey and foraging locations have not been documented.

Foraging habitat: Precaution on site

Do not assume that only the water surface is relevant. As general dragonfly survey practice, observe adults around the reported river, stream and pool habitats while avoiding disturbance to banks and aquatic margins.

Breeding habitat: Known information

Breeding biology is poorly known.

Breeding locations, timing and egg numbers have not been documented.

Breeding habitat: Precaution on site

As a general dragonfly precaution, assess aquatic habitats as potentially relevant to immature life stages as well as adults. Avoid making claims about breeding at a site without supporting observations or survey evidence.

Sheltering habitat: Known information

Species-specific sheltering sites and resting behaviour have not been documented.

Adult resting and sheltering sites, and sheltering sites for immature stages, have not been documented.

Sheltering habitat: Precaution on site

Retain undisturbed aquatic margins and nearby natural cover where practicable until site assessment and approvals establish the appropriate work limits. This is a general precaution, not a known species-specific shelter requirement.

Threats: Recorded threats

No species-specific threats have been identified.

No species-specific threats have been identified.

Threats: Potential worksite impacts

As general aquatic-habitat precautions, consider whether works could directly disturb a river, stream or pool, or affect water quality and flow. These are potential impact pathways to assess, not documented threats specific to the Pilbara Dragonfly.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific survey methods, seasons and detectability are not known. Use a cautious, habitat-led approach.

Check current fauna records, project information and relevant approvals. Atlas of Living Australia records show three WA records at two distinct 0.1-degree locations; exact coordinates are not provided.

Survey methodology: 2. Habitat inspection

Inspect rivers, streams and pools in and near the disturbance footprint. Record the location and condition of aquatic features and any adult dragonflies observed, with photographs or specimens only where permitted and appropriate.

Survey methodology: 3. Specialist follow-up

Where habitat may be affected or identification is uncertain, seek advice from a qualified odonatologist or ecologist. Any aquatic sampling should be undertaken only by suitably authorised personnel using methods appropriate to approvals and site conditions.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations: Water-associated habitat mentioned in profile

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

Rivers, streams and pools are reported as habitat.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Confirm work limits

Plan works around the freshwater habitats reported for the species and resolve survey needs before clearing begins.

Map rivers, streams and pools within and adjacent to the proposed work area. Have the ecologist identify practical exclusion areas and any required buffers in line with approvals and site-specific advice.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Brief the crew

Explain the species’ Priority 3 status, its reported Pilbara range and the need to avoid unapproved disturbance to aquatic habitats. Provide a clear process for reporting dragonfly observations or unexpected water-related impacts.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Prepare contingencies

Agree who will assess a possible sighting and how work will pause or be redirected if an unexpected observation or habitat issue arises. Do not represent unsurveyed habitat as confirmed unoccupied.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Maintain exclusions

Keep disturbance within approved limits and promptly respond to observations or changes affecting aquatic features.

Keep vehicles, machinery, stockpiles and clearing within marked work areas. Do not enter or modify rivers, streams or pools unless the work is authorised and the required safeguards are in place.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Manage site risks

Follow project controls for sediment, spills and changes to water flow as general protections for aquatic habitats. Report any damage, discharge or unplanned change to a water feature to the site supervisor and environmental representative.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Respond to sightings

If a potentially relevant dragonfly is observed, record the time, location and circumstances and notify the environmental representative. Seek qualified identification advice and follow the project’s stop-work and fauna-response procedures.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Inspect affected areas

Check that aquatic habitat protections remain effective and record any fauna observations or incidents.

After works, inspect the work boundary and nearby aquatic features for unplanned disturbance, sediment movement, spills or changes to flow. Escalate issues through the project environmental process.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Document outcomes

Retain survey notes, photographs, sightings, habitat observations and incident records. Report findings through the project’s required channels and update site controls where needed.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Protect aquatic features

Rehabilitation should protect freshwater features and follow site-specific ecological and approval requirements.

Avoid introducing sediment, contaminants or unnecessary changes to rivers, streams and pools during rehabilitation. Use locally appropriate methods set by the project ecologist and relevant approvals.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and adapt

Check rehabilitated areas for erosion and other unintended effects on nearby aquatic habitat. Species-specific rehabilitation targets and monitoring periods have not been documented, so set these through site assessment and project requirements.

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