Adversaeschna brevistyla (Blue-spotted Hawker)

IUCN Status: Least Concern.

The common name of this species comes from the distinct blue marking on its back. However this is just another instance of the sexism the plagues natural history. Only the males display this “blue spot”. This outrageously inconsiderate display fails to take into consideration the feelings of the much plainer female how can only manage a bland yellow on brown approximation of the same pattern.

Female dragonflies, tired of this continual disregard of their colouration challenges, are further outraged that scientists chose this grievance as the species name. As an act of reconciliation, they have requested scientist being researching elimination of (in order): the gene that give the males their colour, colour receptors, and the elimination of all males. Under pressure from various lobby groups, the Federal Government has approved funding the research for the next four years.