Austrolestes

Austrolestes is a genus of medium to large-sized damselflies in the family Lestidae.

Description

Austrolestes damselflies sit with their wings folded completely back.
Males are usually bright blue and black, the females duller.

Distribution

Members of this genus are found in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific islands.

Species

The genus Austrolestes includes the following species:

Male	Female	Scientific name	Common name	Distribution
		Austrolestes aleison Watson & Moulds, 1979	Western ringtail	south-western Australia
		Austrolestes analis	Slender ringtail	South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
		Austrolestes annulosus	Blue ringtail	Australia
		Austrolestes aridus	Inland ringtail	Australia
		Austrolestes cingulatus	Metallic ringtail	Tasmania, Victoria and eastern New South Wales
		Austrolestes colensonis	Blue damselfly, kekewai	New Zealand
		Austrolestes insularis Tillyard, 1913	Northern ringtail	northern Australia
		Austrolestes io	Iota ringtail	south-western Australia and south-eastern Australia
		Austrolestes leda	Wandering ringtail	eastern Australia
		Austrolestes minjerriba Watson, 1979	Dune ringtail	northern New South Wales and southern Queensland
		Austrolestes psyche	Cup ringtail	south-eastern Australia

Etymology

The genus name Austrolestes is derived from the latin word auster meaning south wind, hence south; and the damselfly genus Lestes, which is from the Greek word λῃστής meaning a robber.
In 1913, Robin Tillyard described the genus Austrolestes as having characters similar to the very large genus Lestes, which, unlike Austrolestes, sit with their wings outspread.