Common Bluetail Damselfly - Ischnura heterosticia
FAMILY COENAGRIONIDAE
- Male, body length 34mm
This page contains information and pictures about Common Bluetail Damselflies that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
The Damselfly
Common Bluetail Damselflies are one of the most common damselflies found in Brisbane waters. The head and thorax are black and blue, the abdomen is black in colour. There is the blue tip at the end of abdomen.
- Female, body length 34mm
The female are look the same except pale blue to grayish-green in colour. They usually rest on the plants either in the middle of ponds or at the water edges. The pictures in this page are mostly taken at Wishart along Bulimba Creek.
- The male damselfly is brightly blue in colour with black abdomen. Notice the thick black strip on its thorax back and the blue dots on the top of its eyes..
Quite a number of species of damselflies found in Brisbane are in blue colour and look similar. Our Australian Dragonfly Society President, Deniss Reeves, advised that we can tell it is a Common Bluetail Damselfly by less blue on its eyes, and with more back on its back. The other blue damselfly species, the Blue Sprite has more blue on its back and the Eastern Dart is smaller in size.
- Wings of Common Bluetail Damselfly
When Common Bluetail Damselflies are at rest, they held their wings closely folded up vertically over their thorax.
