Austrolestes aridus - Inland Ringtail

Male identification: A thin, medium-sized damselfly. Most are bright blue and black. The base of each abdominal segment is ringed blue but about 4/5 of each segment is black. The last two abdominal segments, excluding the male anal appendages, are almost completely blue. The pale antehumeral stripe crosses the mesopleural suture. This pale extension is the largest in all the Victorian Lestids.

Female identification: Females are slightly more robust but have similar markings to males. No information on colour but presumed to lack the striking blue markings, compared to the male.

Similar species: Most similar to A. analis and A. leda, both of which have blue tails but in these species, the marking is limited only to the tenth segment (rather than the ninth and tenth). The distinctive blue tail-tip may introduce some confusion with Ischnura heterosticta, I. aurora, Caliagrion billinghursti and Austrocnemis splendida.

Behaviour: Settles with a characteristic Lestid pose, with the body perpendicular to the grass stem.

Distribution: Only one record for Victoria but could occur in arid areas of the far northwest.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Margins of pools and other still waterbodies.

Status: Rare in Victoria. Probably localised.

Flight period: Unknown.