About Ecchlorolestes nylephtha (Barnard, 1937)
Ecchlorolestes nylephtha is a species of damselfly in the family Synlestidae, commonly called the queen malachite. It is endemic to South Africa, where it has only been recorded from the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces. This slender malachite is 47 to 55 millimeters long, with a wingspan of 57 to 61 millimeters. Males and females are similar in appearance: the thorax and abdomen are metallic-green to bronze, with yellow antehumeral stripes on the thorax. Mature males have bright pruinose-blue colouring on the collar between the wings and on the last two abdominal segments, which distinguishes them from females. Both sexes can be told apart from malachites of the genus Chlorolestes by their wing venation. This damselfly inhabits shady forest habitat along fern-lined streambanks. Loss of its natural forest habitat is a potential threat to the species, but its populations are currently considered stable.
