DAMSEL Austroargiolestes icteromelas (MEGAPODAGRIONIDAE) Common Flatwing

Common Flatwing Austroargiolestes icteromelas sit with wings flat (occasional among damselflies) with a body length greater than 40 mm, very common and abundant. This pair in tandem were photographed on Enoggera Creek at St John’s Wood, near the Gresham Street Bridge.

Common Australian Flatwings are medium in size with long and slender bodies, with a bright metallic blue colour. At rest, their wings are mostly held out flat, but in this case they are held together lengthways. Females do this more than males in some flatwings, and appear to be similarly marked to males with a proportionately shorter and thicker abdomens. Common Australian Flatwings have very small antennae and large compound eyes. They are usually found near slow-running water.

A photo showing a closeup of the face, the short antennae, and the bristly legs.

This is a closeup of the Australian Flatwing showing the thorax with two striking lightning-bolt markings on the side.

The colours of the thorax of the Common Flatwing are quite variable, sometimes brown, metallic blue, coppery, yellow and other colours.

This photo shows the steely blue mouth parts and the yellow segments on the face, as well as the short antennae.