Diphlebia

Rockmasters
Tropical Rockmaster
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Superfamily:	Calopterygoidea
Family:	Diphlebiidae
Genus:	Diphlebia Selys, 1869
Species
See text

Diphlebia is a genus of damselflies in the family Diphlebiidae. They are commonly known as rockmasters. These damselflies are very large and thick. 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. They rest with their wings spread out. Their wings are usually blackish brown or have white markings. These damselfies have several present antenodal crossveins. The two basal extend across coastal and subcoastal spaces. The larvae are wide and flat. They have long saccoid gills too breathe underwater. The inner tooth of labial palps is elongated. The specific characters of the larva are mid-ventral, distal width, basal width, and length of median lobe.

Species

Diphlebia includes five species that are found in Eastern Australia and New Guinea. The following are the species.

• Diphlebia coerulescens Tillyard, 1913 - Sapphire Rockmaster
• Diphlebia euphaeoides Tillyard, 1907 - Tropical Rockmaster
• Diphlebia hybridoides Tillyard, 1912 - Giant Rockmaster
• Diphlebia lestoides (Selys, 1853) - Whitewater Rockmaster
• Diphlebia nymphoides Tillyard, 1912 - Arrowhead Rockmaster

References

• "DIPHLEBIIDAE - Azure Damselflies". Brisbane Insects and Spiders. http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_dragons/DIPHLEBIIDAE.htm. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
• Günther Theischinger, John Hawking (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-643-09073-8. http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/Dragonflies%20sample.pdf. Retrieved 11 August 2010. 
• Martin Schorr, Martin Lindeboom, Dennis Paulson. "World Odonata List". University of Puget Sound. http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/world-odonata-list/. Retrieved 11 August 2010.