Blue ringtail

The blue ringtail (Austrolestes annulosus) is an Australian damselfly. It is found on most of the continent.

Blue ringtail
Male, Tasmania, Australia
Female, Tasmania, Australia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Clade:	Pancrustacea
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Family:	Lestidae
Genus:	Austrolestes
Species:	A. annulosus
Binomial name
Austrolestes annulosus (Selys, 1862)
Synonyms
Lestes annulosa Selys, 1862

Taxonomy

The blue ringtail was first described by Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1862.

Description

The abdomen is 3 cm long. It can easily be confused with Austrocoenagrion lyelli or Caliagrion billinghursti, but can be differentiated through dorsal patterns. They are a thin, medium-sized damselfly with varying coloration, which depends on maturity and temperature. However most are a striking blue with minimal black markings. Females are slightly more robust than males, and have a black and white/pale blue coloration.

Distribution and habitat

It is widely distributed in most of Australia, except for the northern and north-eastern parts. It is active through September to April in still water bodies such as riverine pools, lakes and ponds, including temporary pools.

Etymology

The genus name Austrolestes combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Lestes, a genus name derived from Greek λῃστής (lēstēs, “robber”).

The species name annulosus is derived from the Latin annulus ("ring") and the suffix -osus ("abounding in"), referring to the broad ring on the second abdominal segment.

Gallery

• 
  Male
• 
  Mating pair
• 
  Female wings
• 
  Male wings

References

Media related to Austrolestes annulosus at Wikimedia Commons