Austrolestes io - Iota Ringtail

Male identification: A thin, medium-sized blue and black damselfly. There is a thick pale ring at the base of the abdominal segments, except the last few but the abdomen is pale-tipped. The pale antehumeral stripe only just crosses the mesopleural suture with a very small spot on the mesepimeron. The second abdominal segment is mainly dark with a pale central line that does not extend up its full length.

Female identification: Females are likely to have similar markings to males but paler in colour.

Similar species: One of a species pair with A. leda and likely to be very difficult to differentiate in some cases. Difference in the marking on the second abdominal segment appears to be reliable.

Behaviour: Similar to other Lestids, occupies the edges of standing water. Perches characteristically perpendicular to vegetation stem.

Distribution: Uncertain.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Margins of pools and other still waterbodies. One record from just over the border in NSW in pools next to a slow-flowing creek in wet sclerophyll forest.

Status: Uncommon and localised.

Flight period: October