About Austroargiolestes icteromelas (Selys, 1862)
The common flatwing, whose scientific name is Austroargiolestes icteromelas, is a very common species of damselfly. It belongs to the subfamily Argiolestinae of the family Argiolestidae, and is also called the Australian flatwing.
Males and females of this species look similar to each other. They have a long, slender body that reaches around 43 mm in length, and is a bright metallic-blue colour. Common flatwings usually rest with their wings held flat and open, though females sometimes rest with folded wings. Their antennae are very small, while their compound eyes are comparatively large. Like all other dragonflies and damselflies, common flatwings do not use their legs for walking; instead, they use their legs to capture other flying insects in mid-air.
This species is most often found along streams and creeks. It is seldom found near still water bodies like ponds, and is more likely to occur near slow-running water. Common flatwings prefer to rest within a few metres of a creek or stream, in shaded areas, and will sometimes rest in large groups among plants. They perch on leaves, and when disturbed, they only fly a short distance. This species also tolerates people approaching closely.
The common flatwing is distributed in eastern Australia, where it occurs in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
