Metallic Ringtail

Metallic Ringtail
Metallic Ringtail
male
female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Lestidae
Genus: Austrolestes
Species: A. cingulatus
Binomial name
Austrolestes cingulatus
Burmeister, 1839

The Metallic Ringtail (Austrolestes cingulatus) is an Australian damselfly. It is widely distributed in Tasmania, Victoria, eastern New South Wales and south eastern Queensland. They are a thin, medium-sized damselfly with a green and gold or bluish green and gold coloration. Each abdominal segment is marked by a pale "ring"; this combined with its glossy metallic coloration give it its common name of Metallic Ringtail.

It is active through October to March in still-water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and alpine bogs, being usually found amongst vegetation.

References

  • Günther Theischinger, John Hawking (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-643-09073-8.