The eastern billabongfly
(''Austroagrion watsoni'') is a
damselfly
Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Coenagrionidae
The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera.
The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making i ...
.
It is also known as the eastern dart. Eastern billabongflies are small damselflies about 25mm (1 inch) in length. They are found near slow running water or still water, such as lakes, ponds and ditches. Male and female eastern billabongflies mate in a wheel position.
Identification
The male eastern billabongfly has a bright blue thorax with black markings, and a long and slender black abdomen with blue rings and a blue tip. The female is a similar size to the male and is pale blue to grayish-green in colour. The antehumeral stripe of the female is a contrastingly bright green.
Behaviour
Eastern billabongflies usually rest on plants either in a pond or at the waters edge, and sit very close to the water surface. They are relatively quick flyers.
Similar species
Eastern billabongflies appear similar to
common bluetails and
blue riverdamsels. Eastern billabongflies are smaller. Eastern billabongflies have a blue bar just behind their eyes where the common bluetail has two blue spots. The tips of the tails of eastern billabongflies have two black squares, whereas the common bluetail and blue riverdamsel tails are all blue. Eastern billabongflies have a green antehumeral stripe, where the common bluetail has a blue stripe. The eyes of an eastern billabongfly are mostly uniformly coloured, whereas common bluetails have bi-coloured eyes.
Distribution
Eastern billabongflies are found throughout northern and eastern
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
,
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
, as well as on
New Caledonia
)
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in the Pacific.
Gallery
File:Eastern-Billabongfly,-Austroagrion-watsoni,-female-.jpg, Female
File:Small blue and black damselfly (5378798753).jpg, Male
File:Eastern Billabongfly, Austroagrion watsoni, mating pair.jpg, mating pair
File:Eastern billabongfly (5379401880).jpg, An eastern billabongfly has a blue tail tip with two black marks
File:Austroagrion watsoni female wings (34664618172).jpg, Female wings
File:Austroagrion watsoni male wings (34695537881).jpg, Male wings
References
Eastern Billabongfly - ''Austroagrion watsoni''Australian Dragonflies Eastern Billabongfly
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2840166
Coenagrionidae
Insects of Australia
Insects described in 1982