|Uropetala carovei (White, 1846),
or New Zealand bush giant dragonfly (Kapokapowai in the Maori language),
is a giant dragonfly of the family Petaluridae, endemic to New Zealand.
The Maori name means "water snatcher" alluding to the water dwelling larva,
which, like all dragonflies, has a long extendable jaw that shoots out
to snatch prey. The species was described by White in 1846 (White and Doubleday
1846) and the type material is held in the British Natural History Museum.
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. Males have petal-shaped hind appendages. Its diet is smaller
insects, including cicadas. They are preyed on in turn by rats, kingfishers
and even wasps. They are slow and noisy fliers.
The nymphs tunnel into the soft earth
of a stream bank or seepage, where they occupy a chamber half-filled with
water for about five years. They emerge at night to seek prey near the
burrow entrance. They are sensitive to disturbance so are rarely observed.
This species is endemic to New Zealand;
ranges from North Island and in Marlborough, Nelson, the West Coast, and
Southland in the South Island. Although not common, the species appears
to be widespread. It has no known threats and is known from over 50 locations
therefore IUCN Red List accessed as Least Concern.