Aurora Bluetail: Ischnura Aurora

Aurora Bluetail, Male

Aurora Bluetail, Female

Location: South West Coast, Western Australia

Season: Summer, January

Order: Odonata 

Suborder: Zygoptera 

Family: Coenagrionidae 

Genus: Ischnura

Ischnura aurora

The above male and female Aurora Bluetail Damselflies were spotted on two separate occasions, in separate parts of my garden, making me assume that there are many of these living in the area. There is no fresh water source close to the garden. The vegetation is dry but both were on relatively greener and cooler parts.

These are tiny damselflies, about 2 cms in length and very thin. The male has metallic green thorax with black antehumeral stripes. The abdomen is red with a bronze tip and a green ring, ends with a blue 'tail'. The female is all green. It was quite dull in the shade but the metallic green sheen was brilliant in the sunlight. The female also has blue tail which I noticed only in the photograph. The male hovered around and didn't seem like a strong flier. The female was still but unexpectedly flew away out of my reach, which is why the picture isn't in detail.

Please see other damselflies that I have recorded in the family of Coenagrionidae:  Red and Blue Damsel and South West Billabong Fly.

Reference: Ecology Solutions, Wiki, Esperance Fauna

South Western Billabong Damselfly: Austroagrion cyane

South Western Billabong Fly, Male

South Western Billabong Fly, Male 

South Western Billabong Fly, Female

South Western Billabong Fly, Female

South Western Billabong Fly, Male and Female Mating
Bluer one on the right is male, the left paler fly is female

Location: Big Swamp Wildlife Park, Bunbury, Western Australia

Season: Summer, January

Order: Odonata 

Suborder: Zygoptera 

Family: Coenagrionidae 

Subfamily: Coenagrioninae 

Genus: Austroagrion
Austroagrion cyane

This is a very tiny damselfly, about 3 cms and very thin and needle-like. It is relatively easy to spot the males as the bright blue colour stands out when they perch on plants. They are often seen fighting for a perching spot. They live close to waters, near the shallows. I have rarely seen them fly over water. 

The males are bright blue in colour. The females are paler and  have blue rings on the tip of the abdomen. The couple above were mating high up on a tree. They were staying still for a long time, rarely moving. They stayed in the wheel position for a long time (throughout my 20 mins skype convo plus atleast 10 mins to get a good photo!).

I think this damselfly is South Western Billabong Fly. It is considerably smaller than Wandering Ringtail, with no ring at the tip of the abdomen. I don't think it is a Blue River Damsel because the blue eyes of this damselfly has a black bar, not spots as described for Blue River Damsel. Esperance Fauna Blog has beautiful pictures and description of South Western Billabong Fly which confirmed my identification.

References: Esperance Fauna, Wiki, Brisbane Insects

Red And Blue Damsel: Xanthagrion erythroneurum

Red and Blue Damsel perching

Red and Blue Damselfy couple. The brighter one is the male, paler is the female.

Location: Big Swamp Wildlife Park, Bunbury, Western Australia
Season: Summer, January

Order: Odonata 

Suborder: Zygoptera 

Superfamily: Coenagrionoidea

Family: Coenagrionidae 

Genus: Xanthagrion 

Xanthagrion erythroneurum

I found these in the Big Swamp Wildlife reserve in Bunbury, where they are abundant this time of the year. They stay at the edge of the shallow waters, occasionally flying over the water. They perch on to the vegetation and easily disturbed by other damselflies and dragonflies. The mating couple fly low over the water, resting on twigs floating on the water surface. 

They are extremely tiny, about 5 cms and extremely thin, almost invisible to the naked eye! The males have bright red head and thorax, dark abdomen and blue bands on the tip on the abdomen. The females are paler, the head is pale red and the blue tip is not easily visible. 

Sources: Wiki, Esperance Fauna 

Blue Ringtail Damselfly: Austrolestes annulosus

Location: Western Australia, South West

Season: Summer, December

Order: Odonata 

Suborder: Zygoptera 

Family: Lestidae

Austrolestes annulosus

Very pretty and very delicate! The Blue Ringtail Damsel Fly was found sitting in my garden, which is pretty dry at this time of the year. This damselfly is supposed to be found near creeks and water sources. Simple way to distinguish between dragonflies and damselflies is position of the wings when they rest. Damsel flies neatly fold their wings while resting whereas the dragonflies spread them apart.

This is called the Blue Ringtail because the end of the tail has a ring, as seen in the above photo. 

Reference: Brisbane Insects