Austrolestes colensonis

Description

Austrolestes colensonis is a species of Odonata first described by White in 1846. Austrolestes colensonis belongs to the genus Austrolestes, and the family Lestidae. None of these subspecies are listed. Austrolestes is a genus of medium to large-sized damselflies in the family Lestidae. Austrolestes damselflies sit with their wings folded completely back. Males are usually bright blue and black, the females duller. Members of this genus are found in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific islands. 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.