Diphlebia is a genus of damselflies in the family Lestoideidae. They are commonly known as rockmasters. The species in this genus are found in Eastern Australia, except for one species that can be found in New Guinea. The males are vividly patterned. They are blue or bluish green and black in colour. Their blue colour also gives them the name azure damselflies.These damselflies are very large and thick. They rest with their wings spread out. Their wings are usually blackish brown or have white markings. These damselflies have several present antenodal crossveins. The two basal crossveins extend across costal and subcostal spaces.
Diphlebia larvae are wide and flat. They have long saccoid gills enabling them to breathe underwater. The inner tooth of their labial palps is elongated. The specific characters of the larvae are mid-ventral, distal width, basal width, and length of median lobe.
Taxonomy The genus was originally named Dineura by Selys in 1859, but this name was preoccupied by Dineura Dahlbom, 1835 (Hymenoptera). Selys therefore introduced the replacement name Diphlebia in 1869. The type species is Amphipteryx lestoides Selys, 1853, designated by monotypy.
Until recently Diphlebia was a member of the family Diphlebiidae.
Etymology The genus name Diphlebia is derived from the Greek δίς (dis, "twice" or "double") and φλέψ (phleps, "vein"), likely referring to distinctive wing venation.
Species Diphlebia includes five species that are found in eastern Australia and New Guinea. The following are the species: Diphlebia coerulescens - sapphire rockmaster Diphlebia euphoeoides - tropical rockmaster Diphlebia hybridoides - giant rockmaster Diphlebia lestoides - whitewater rockmaster Diphlebia nymphoides - arrowhead rockmaster
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