Austrolestes is a genus of medium to large-sized damselflies in the family Lestidae.
Description Austrolestes damselflies sit with their wings folded completely back. Males are usually bright blue and black, the females duller.
Distribution Members of this genus are found in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific islands.
Etymology The genus name Austrolestes combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Lestes, a genus name derived from Greek λῃστής (lēstēs, “robber”). The name refers to a southern representative of that group.
Species The genus Austrolestes includes the following species:
Male Female Scientific name Common name Distribution Austrolestes aleison Western ringtailsouth-western Australia Austrolestes analis Slender ringtailSouth Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. Austrolestes annulosus Blue ringtailAustralia Austrolestes aridus Inland ringtailAustralia Austrolestes cingulatus Metallic ringtailTasmania, Victoria and eastern New South Wales Austrolestes colensonis Blue damselfly, kekewaiNew Zealand Austrolestes io Iota ringtailsouth-western Australia and south-eastern Australia Austrolestes leda Wandering ringtaileastern Australia Austrolestes minjerriba Dune ringtailnorthern New South Wales and southern Queensland Austrolestes psyche Cup ringtailsouth-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. 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.
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