Austroagrion watsoni - Eastern Billabongfly

Male identification: A very distinctive small blue and black coenagrion with a blue-ringed abdomen and distinct blue tail tip. The sides of the thorax are pale blue and the antehumeral stripe contrastingly bright green. A single blue line extends across the whole postocular area behind the eyes.

Female identification: Pale version of male, lacking blue colouration and without blue tail-tip or green antehumeral.

Similar species: Similar to I. heterosticta which has two postocular spots (as opposed to a single line) and has a blue, as opposed to green, antehumeral stripe. Male and female I. heterosticta also have bi-coloured eyes, whereas the eyes on A. watsoni are mostly uniformly coloured.

Behaviour: Relatively quick flyer, generally very close to the surface, perching on floating vegetation.

Distribution: Throughout Victoria in any suitable habitat generally below about 800m.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Lakes, ponds and ditches.

Status: Common and widespread

Flight period: October to March.