VICTORIAN DRAGONFLIES

IDENTIFICATION

There are several species of damselfly that are quite common around the Melbourne area, including the Dandenongs. The following annotated list may help to identify some species but for more accurate information, consult the species pages by following the links.

DAMSELFLIES (go to dragonflies)
	Bronze Needle (Synlestes weyersii) - common species that inhabits creeks and streams in the area. Weak flight. Often seen hanging off vegetation above the water. Boldly coloured green and gold with a distinct bronze stripe on the top of the thorax. Some individuals have small but conspicuous white spots near the wing tip. Perch with wings held flat.
	Slender Ringtail (Austrolestes analis) - common species inhabiting grassland and other vegetation, often quite distant from standing water. One of the damselflies more likely to be seen in gardens. Superficially similar to other Austrolestes species but males have distinct blue spot at tail tip - note, so too does the abundant damselfly Common Bluetail (Ischnura heterosticta) - see below.
	Blue Ringtail (Austrolestes annulosus) - a relatively common species but seemingly more confined to wetland areas than Slender Ringtail. Compared to Slender Ringtail, this species is largely blue with narrow dark rings forming triangles on the upper abdomen and males lacking the pale tail tip of Slender Ringtail.
	Common Flatwing (Austroargiolestes icteromelas) - a common species inhabiting standing and flowing water. Flatwings are amongst the few damselflies that perch with the wings held flat - (compare with Bronze Needle, above).  Thin dark body with a series of very fine rings around the abdomen. Eyes black and yellow spots on each side of the face, below the eyes.
	Aurora Bluetail (Ischnura aurora) - locally abundant in some waterbodies. A very tiny damselfly that is often overlooked. Males are distinctly coloured with green head and thorax and red abdomen with a blue tip.
	Common Bluetail (Ischnura heterosticta) - a very abundant damsefly that occurs in almost any waterbody. Differs from similar species in having a  distinct blue just behind each eye. The abdomen is jet black with a blue tip comprising two segments - note, on Slender Ringtail (above) the blue tip is only on one segment and it lacks the eye spots.
	Red & Blue Damsel (Xanthagrion erythroneurum) - an abundant damselfly often seen with Common Bluetail. Unmistakeable with bright red eyes, thorax and upper abdomen, a dark lower abdomen and blue tail tip markings.