It has a wingspan of up to 11 centimetres (males) or 13 centimetres (females). gigantea grows at least 10 centimetres in length. It's the last of the giant dragonfly's summer, and it may well be the last days for this remarkable ancient species. In a lonely sphagnum swamp near Moss Vale in New South Wales, a prehistoric creature will spend the next few weeks flying around and laying its eggs. Australia is home to at least four of these giant species, and the swampland home of one of the most well known giant dragonflies, Petalura gigantea, is finally being protected. Although they can be as tiny as 15 millimetres today, there are still vestiges of swamplands where giants survive. In prehistoric times, dragonflies had wingspans of up to 70 centimetres.
Part of the order Odonata, which also includes damselflies, these unique fliers have been on Earth for around 300 million years. Living fossils, dragonflies are some of the most ancient of that ancient animal, the insect. (Source: Caroline K Dearson, Sydney Catchment Authority) The Petalura giganta, grow at least 10 centimentres in length.