Ischnura heterosticta

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Ischnura heterosticta
Male Common Bluetail (15390570793).jpg
Male Ischnura heterosticta
Sydney dragonfly Victoria Park pond 29.jpg
Female Ischnura heterosticta
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Ischnura
Species:
I. heterosticta
Binomial name
Ischnura heterosticta
(Burmeister, 1842) [2]
Ischnura heterosticta distribution map.svg

Ischnura heterosticta, one of at least two species with the common name common bluetail , [3] is an Australian damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. [4] It is the largest of the three Ischnura species in Australia. [5] They are generally found near slow-running or still water. [6] The species is also salt tolerant. [7] It flies from October to March. [5]

Contents

Description

The common bluetail is a small damselfly. Most males have blue eyes, a blue thorax, and a blue ringed tail. The females have a variety of forms including green, brown, black, and a form with very similar colourings to the male. [5]

Distribution

In Australia, Ischnura heterosticta is found throughout the entire continent including Tasmania. [3]

Related Research Articles

Damselfly Suborder of insects

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 the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.

<i>Enallagma cyathigerum</i> species of damselfly

Enallagma cyathigerum is a species found mainly between latitudes 40°N and 72°N; It is widely distributed in the Palearctic, and the Nearctic species Enallagma annexum was at one time considered to be synonymous with it. The species can reach a length of 32 to 35 mm. It is common in many different countries including Russia, Europe and South Korea. Damselflies are an important link between the health of the aquatic ecosystem and its response to climate change.

Blue-tailed damselfly Species of damselfly

The blue-tailed damselfly or common bluetail is a damselfly, belonging to the family Coenagrionidae.

Calopterygidae Family of damselflies

The Calopterygidae are a family of damselflies, in the suborder Zygoptera. They are commonly known as the broad-winged damselflies, demoiselles, or jewelwings. These rather large damselflies have wingspans of 50–80 mm, are often metallic-coloured, and can be differentiated from other damselflies by the broader connection between the wings and the body, as opposed to the abrupt narrowing seen in other damselfly families. The family contains some 150 species.

<i>Ischnura senegalensis</i> Species of insect

Ischnura senegalensis, also known variously as common bluetail, marsh bluetail, ubiquitous bluetail, African bluetail, and Senegal golden dartlet, is a widespread damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. It is native from Africa, through the Middle East, to southern and eastern Asia.

Metallic ringtail Species of damselfly

The metallic ringtail is an Australian damselfly in the family Lestidae, It is widely distributed in Tasmania, Victoria and eastern New South Wales. It is a thin, medium-sized damselfly with a green and gold or bluish green and gold coloration. Each abdominal segment is marked by a pale "ring"; this, combined with its glossy metallic coloration, give it its common name of metallic ringtail.

<i>Ischnura aurora</i> Species of damselfly

Ischnura aurora, golden dartlet, also known as the aurora bluetail, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.

<i>Ischnura</i> Genus of damselflies

Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as blue tails in the family Coenagrionidae. Forktails are distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection at the tip of the abdomen which gives the group their common name.

<i>Ischnura gemina</i> Species of damselfly

Ischnura gemina is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae known by the common name San Francisco forktail. It is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area in California in the United States. This uncommon insect has a total range of less than 500 square miles in the Bay Area, occurring only in greater San Francisco and parts of San Mateo and Marin Counties. This species is "one of the rarest Odonates in the United States."

<i>Phaon iridipennis</i> Species of damselfly

Phaon iridipennis, commonly known as the glistening demoiselle or glinsterjuffertjie, is a species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae.

<i>Ischnura genei</i> Species of damselfly

Ischnura genei, the island bluetail damselfly, is a species of damselfly that replaces the blue-tailed damselfly on some Mediterranean islands. It is a small and slender damselfly that tends to be smaller and daintier than the common bluetail. Its main distinguishing features include a black abdomen, which in males carries a striking blue tail-light on S8. Some female colour forms, too, have a blue tail-light on S8, but it tends to be interrupted by a black mark on either end. In some other female colour forms S8 is rusty brown. The male's pterostigma is bi-coloured. In Malta, this species is still frequent and breeds, but it is endangered by habitat loss.

Scarce blue-tailed damselfly Species of damselfly

The scarce blue-tailed damselfly or small bluetail is a member of the damselfly family Coenagrionidae.

Crimson marsh glider Species of dragonfly

Trithemis aurora, the crimson marsh glider, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is a common and widely distributed species found throughout the year across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Blue riverdamsel Species of damselfly

The blue riverdamsel, Pseudagrion microcephalum is a common species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is also known as the blue sprite and blue grass dart.

Eastern billabongfly Species of damselfly

The eastern billabongfly is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. 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.

Common bluetail may refer to any of several damselfly species:

<i>Diphlebia coerulescens</i> Species of damselfly

Diphlebia coerulescens, known as the sapphire rockmaster, is an Australian species of broad winged damselfly. It is one of a group known as the azure damselflies. It is found in Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales in eastern Australia, where it is found in fast-flowing streams and rivers.

<i>Ischnura pruinescens</i> Species of damselfly

Ischnura pruinescens is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as the colourful bluetail. The taxon has been assessed for the IUCN Red List as being of least concern and is listed in the Catalogue of Life.

<i>Aciagrion fragilis</i> Species of damselfly

Aciagrion fragilis is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as a blue slim. It is a small, slender damselfly, the male is blue and black. It has been recorded from northern Australia, New Guinea and the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia, where it inhabits still waters and swamps.

<i>Ischnura rubilio</i> Species of damselfly

Ischnura rubilio, western golden dartlet, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Indian subcontinent and Iran.

References

  1. Dow, R.A. (2017). "Ischnura heterosticta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T83124880A83377010. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T83124880A83377010.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Burmeister, Hermann (1839). Handbuch der Entomologie (in Latin). Berlin: T.C.F. Enslin. pp. 805–862 [820] via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. 1 2 Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 96. ISBN   0643090738.
  4. "Species Ischnura heterosticta (Burmeister, 1842)". Australian Faunal Directory . Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Tillyard, R J (1905). "On dimorphism in the female of Ischnura heterosticta, Burm". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 30: 302–306. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.12903.
  6. "Common Bluetail Damselfly - Ischnura heterosticta". brisbaneinsects.com. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. Kefford, Ben J. (2005-08-22). "Growth of the damselfly Ischnura heterosticta is better in saline water than freshwater" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-28.