Meet the residents: Bush giant dragonfly – Kapokapowai

New Zealand bush giant dragonfly, Kapokapowai, meaning water snatcher is endemic to New Zealand. The yellow and black body can be up to 86 mm long, with a wingspan up to 130 mm, making it the largest dragonfly in New Zealand. Its diet is smaller insects, including cicadas. They are preyed on in turn by rats, cats, kingfishers and even wasps. They are slow and noisy fliers and no better at finding their way out from behind a closed window than their Australian cousins.

Even at rest the wings are always quivering.

Through the window. I tried to get closer but he didn’t like the attention.

I had to rescue this one last week.

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