Identification A diverse family with several genera in Victoria, all of which are quite different.

Several members of this family are unmistakable. These include the I. aurora, which is widespread and quite common but extremely small and often overlooked. Xanthagrion erythreneurum is a very common and widespread species that is strikingly coloured, as is Pseudagrion aureofrons. These three species should present little difficulty for identification.

The family contains a number of 'blue and black' damselflies that can be mistaken easily for some of the Austrolestes (family Lestidae). If it is possible to catch the damselfly, then a simple look at the wingtip is sufficient to know if it is either Lestidae (below right) or Coenagrionidae (below right). In Lestidae, the veins leading into the wing tip are many, whilst in Coenagrionidae, they are few.

With practice however, it should be reasonably obvious to the observer which family the insect is in.

I. heterosticta is an extremely abundant damselfly likely to be found in all standing water bodies in the State. This is one of the blue-tailed damselflies, the males of which can be most readily confused with  Austroagrion watsoni. A. watsoni is very similar but readily told apart by markings above the eyes. In male and female I. heterosticta there are two very obvious spots behind the eyes (see here), whereas in A. watsoni, this is a single line (see here). This feature can be seen quite well through binoculars.

The remaining two species are less common.