Slender Ringtail - Austrolestes analis

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Slender Ringtail - Austrolestes analis

The Slender Ringtails are around 3 cm or a little over 1” in length. The males have the blue markings on the abdomen, the females white. In order to mate, the male grasps the female’s neck and she lifts and places her genitalia (at the base of her abdomen) to the copulation organ of the male to receive the sperm. This is a commonly seen activity of Damsel and Dragonflies and is known as the wheel position, and although not shown here, it is however shown by clicking 'Insects – Damselflies' or 'Insects – Dragonflies' in the right-hand column for a variety of photographic images. 

During the day I find them well away from water (100-200 metres/yards) perched on Taxandria callistachys a shrub of swampy winter wet areas. Here they remain motionless unless disturbed when then will move a short distance, but if pursued in order to photograph them, will take off to fly a much greater distance and disappear into a mass of vegetation. As additional evidence of their twilight activities, a female was attracted to a house-light when it was quite dark, the only Odonata in my experience to do so. 

Austrolestes is a member of the Lestidae family along with 10 species that are distributed throughout Australia and commonly known as Ringtails. The Slender Ringtail is found over most near coastal regions in the southern portion of the country, including Tasmania. Around Esperance it is not noticeably common, because from my experience it seldom visits open water to mate and lay eggs, which I presume means they do so towards dawn or dusk and probably hunt at these times too.

Aurora Bluebell - Ischnura aurora

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Aurora Bluebell - Ischnura aurora

There are only three Australian Ischnura species and all occur overseas with Ischnura aurora the most widespread, being recorded throughout Australia, India, to our north, plus many Pacific Islands. However they are not overly common in the Esperance region and to date I have only seen them at the mouth of Stockyard Creek, 14 km (8.5 miles) east of Esperance.

Ischnura belongs to the Coenagrionidae family that is only represented in Western Australia by three other species: Ischnura heterosticta, the Common Bluetail that I have not yet encountered, plus Austroagrion cyane (South-western Billabongfly) and Xanthagrion erythroneurum (Red and Blue Damsel), both of which are detailed here. Male damselflies in this family are often strikingly coloured in reds, blues and contrasting black.

The Aurora Bluebell is a tiny damselfly, being between 1.5-2 cm (3/4”) in length and very slender. As they tend to perch for long periods they are very difficult to spot unless disturbed, this includes the brightly coloured male. They do not appear to be strong fliers, which is surprising considering their distribution, but move slowly and deliberately rather like a large mosquito. The greenish coloration of the female makes her particularly difficult to spot as she just disappears amongst similar coloured foliage.

I have included a habitat shot where I found this damselfly; this held approximately 20 or so individuals in an area 40 x 20 metres/yards on a bend near the edge of the creek. They mainly spend their time on the round-leaf sedge or the couch-like grass, but as the sea is only a single low dune (200 metres/yards) away, it could become very windy. At these times, they can shelter behind those larger Melaleuca shrubs that have small sheltered openings on the far side also containing their preferred grass and sedge.

Blue Ringtail Damselfly - Austrolestes annulosus

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Blue Ringtail Damselfly - Austrolestes annulosus

From the Lestidae family, Austrolestes annulosus would be the bluest of all the Ringtail Damselflies and on that feature alone males can be identified from a distance. The female on the other hand is much less distinguishable, being a pale to very pale blue with a bronze dorsel colouration, but what they have in common is the forward facing arrowheads or triangle markings on most abdominal segments.

Locally, this damselfly is not particularly common, although odd individuals are usually present amongst other damselflies. They are noticeably larger than most other species that is further emphasised by the males flashy blue coloration, the duller females probably visit individual waterways to pair up with the resident male, mate, lay their eggs, then move on. When paired together, I found them to be very wary and will fly off if approached too closely (less than 1.5 metres or 5’).

Austrolestes annulosus is widespread in Australia, occurring in all States, including Tasmania, but is not found in northern Australia, apparently preferring drier and less humid summers. Like most of the local damselflies, the Blue Ringtail is most active during the warmer months from November to April, which here would be the driest time of the year. However as they quickly disappear at the first sign of colder night temperatures, these damselflies obviously like it warm and dry.

Western Ringtail Damselfly - Austrolestes aleison

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Western Ringtail Damselfly - Austrolestes aleison

Austrolestes aleison is part of the Lestidae family along with a couple of other genera, although only Austrolestes is known to occur in Western Australia and these are commonly known as Ringtails. There are five Ringtail species listed for the SW of WA, although I have only seen three locally. The Western Ringtail is quite distinctive and unlikely to be confused with the other WA species, the male having narrow blue rings along its abdomen against a dark background, whilst the female has pale blue rings and none at the tail end. Also the dorsel colour of the female is a bronze brown and the male much darker, but these can vary to the eye, depending on the angle of sunlight.

The thorax marking in profile is a distinguishing feature of Austrolestes aleison, as is a dorsel wineglass marking on the male just behind the thorax. This species is one of the few damselflies restricted to the southwest of Western Australia, although a similar looking species the Cup Ringtail A. psyche has an Eastern States distribution.

Locally, most of the Damselflies disappear by the end of March when there is a big influx of Dragonflies anxious to complete their egg laying before the weather gets too cold. So although these Western Ringtails can normally be seen daily during the warmer part of the year, they no longer can be found, but no doubt will turn up again next spring/summer.

South-western Billabongfly - Austroagrion cyane

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South-western Billabongfly - Austroagrion cyane

The genus Austroagrion has 4 species that are all found in WA, but Austroagrion cyane is the only one occurring in southern coastal districts. It belongs to the Coenagrionidae family, which has 13 genera and a total of 31 species. Although the South-western Billabongfly is the only local species from Austroagrion, there is a similar looking damselfly from a different genus called the Common Bluebell, Ischnura heterosticta, which in some regions co-exist, although I have not seen any around Esperance. They are easily separated by the markings behind the head; A. cyane has a blue dumbbell shape, whereas I. Heterosticta has only two blue unconnected spots. There are other differences, but they are less obvious or more variable.

Around Esperance, Austroagrion cyane is probably the most common damselfly and often there are several males together without any apparent aggression, unfortunately for them, females seem to be far less common. They prefer still or slow moving water and are probably attracted to the numerous ephemeral swamps in the region. Growing to around 2-3 cm (1’) in length, they can often be seen with others, including males of different species, waiting on aquatic vegetation for the arrival of females. Locally, they are permanent residents and during warmer months can be encountered in most suitable aquatic habitats.

Red & Blue Damsel - Xanthagrion erythroneurum

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Red and Blue Damselfly - Xanthagrion erythroneurum

Damselflies and Dragonflies both belong to the Order Odonata, they are then divided into the Suborders of Zygoptera for Damselflies and Anisoptera for Dragonflies. Damselflies physically differ by having wings that taper from the wing apex to their attachment and are usually held close to the abdomen. Dragonflies hold their wings stiffly at right-angles to their body. The larvae also have three long gills at the base of their abdomen, whereas Dragonfly larvae have none. There are 12 Damselfly families in Australia with 37 genera and 112 species (Australian Faunal Directory). Xanthagrion erythroneurum belongs to the Coenagrionidae family and is the only species in the Xanthagrion genus.

Generally, damselflies tend to remain at rest more than dragonflies and are mostly encountered clinging to vegetation in or around an aquatic environment, which may be fast flowing or a quiet pond. The Red & Blue Damselfly prefers the slower moving or still water habitat, where the more common male takes up a territory to attract a female, which is then defended against other males. This is likely to be more successful if there are aquatic plants projecting from the water, on which the female can lay her eggs.

With Xanthagrion erythroneurum, the colours of the male and female are somewhat similar, although the male is usually a brighter red or orange and has a couple of bright blue bands near the base of the abdomen. The slightly duller female has only narrow blue bands, plus a wider pale underbelly.

This damselfly has a wide distribution, occurring in all Australian States, plus New Caledonia, Fiji and New Zealand. Like most damselflies the Red & Blue Damsel is an excellent flier, catching live prey on the wing. Despite their extensive distribution most would be permanent residents around suitable waterways where it is not unusual to have a single male guarding quite a large territory, although others quickly move in when females arrive.

Update 21/03/2010
Two photographs added.