Austrocnemis splendida - Splendid Longlegs

Male identification: Extremely tiny (~20mm) and distinctive blue and metallic black damselfly with very long legs.

Female identification: No information at present

Similar species: Similar to I. heterosticta which instead has two postocular spots and broad, unbroken blue sides to the thorax.

Behaviour: Exclusively perches in open water on floating vegetation such as lilypads. Very easy to overlook owing to small size.

Distribution: One record from Alexandra in 1906. Apparently also recorded at Albert Park lake in the middle of Melbourne in the mid-1900s.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Lakes and ponds with lilypads.

Status: Rare and localised.

Flight period: No information at present