Biology:Austrolestes

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Short description: Genus of damselflies

Austrolestes
Austrolestes annulosus.jpg
Blue Ringtail (Austrolestes annulosus)
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Lestidae
Genus: Austrolestes
Tillyard, 1913[1]
Type species
Austrolestes cingulatus

Austrolestes is a genus of medium to large-sized damselflies in the family Lestidae.[2] Austrolestes damselflies sit with their wings folded completely back.[1] Males are usually bright blue and black, the females duller. Members of this genus are found in Australia , New Zealand and South Pacific islands.

Species

The genus Austrolestes includes the following species:[3]

Male Female Scientific name Common Name Distribution
Austrolestes aleison Watson & Moulds, 1979 Western ringtail south-western Australia
Slender ringtail damselfy Austrolestes analis male (31718210563).jpg Slender ringtail.jpg Austrolestes analis (Rambur, 1842) Slender ringtail South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Common blue damselfly02.jpg 120px Austrolestes annulosus (Selys, 1862) Blue ringtail Australia
Austrolestes aridus (Tillyard, 1908) Inland ringtail Australia
Austrolestes cingulatus male.jpg Austrolestes cingulatus03.jpg Austrolestes cingulatus (Burmeister, 1839) Metallic ringtail Tasmania, Victoria and eastern New South Wales
KF Austrolestes colensonis 1.jpg 120px Austrolestes colensonis (White, 1846) Blue damselfly, kekewai New Zealand
Northern Ringtail 3442.jpg Austrolestes insularis Tillyard, 1913 Northern ringtail northern Australia
Iota-Ringtail Austrolestes-io male.jpg Austrolestes io (Selys, 1862) Iota ringtail south-western Australia and south-eastern Australia
Blue damselfly (31562452651).jpg 120px Austrolestes leda (Selys, 1862) Wandering ringtail eastern Australia
Austrolestes minjerriba (49738407742).jpg Austrolestes minjerriba Watson, 1979 Dune ringtail northern New South Wales and southern Queensland
Cup ringtail damselfly Austrolestes psyche (22219876471).jpg 120px Austrolestes psyche (Hagen in Selys, 1862) Cup ringtail south-eastern Australia

Etymology

The genus name Austrolestes is derived from the latin word auster meaning south wind, hence south; and the damselfly genus Lestes, which is from the Greek word λῃστής meaning a robber.[1][4] In 1913, Robin Tillyard described the genus Austrolestes as having characters similar to the very large genus Lestes, which, unlike Austrolestes, sit with their wings outspread.[1]

References

  • Günther Theischinger; John Hawking (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-643-09073-8. 
  • Annette Walker (2000). The Reed Handbook of Common New Zealand Insects. Raupo Publishing (NZ). ISBN 0-7900-0718-5. 

Wikidata ☰ Q2753910 entry