Common Glider

Tramea loewii is a medium to large dragonfly with a wingspan of about 85 mm and a body length of about 45 mm. The thorax is striped yellowish to brown on a purplish background. Males have a red abdomen with black markings near the tip, while females are dull brown. Dark patches at the base of the hindwings are characteristic of the species; these patches are red in males and brown in females. Tramea loewii is similar in appearance to Tramea stenoloba, but differs in the colouration of the thorax and the structure of the secondary genitalia.

Tramea loewii inhabits a wide range of still-water habitats including ponds, swamps and lagoons. In Australia it is widespread except for the far south-west of the continent.

In 1866, Brauer published the description of Tramea loewii using the manuscript name proposed by Kaup. Brauer noted that Kaup had already assigned names to many specimens sent to him for study, and that he generally retained those names unless they were already occupied. In 1942, Lieftinck reviewed Indo-Australian populations of Tramea loewii and described the Australian form as Tramea loewii tillyardi. He regarded the Australian populations as closely related to specimens from Ceram and western New Guinea, differing mainly in thoracic colouration and minor differences in the male genitalia. Tramea tillyardi is now treated as a synonym of Tramea loewii.