Podopteryx selysi

Treehole flatwing
Female, north Queensland
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Family:	Argiolestidae
Genus:	Podopteryx
Species:	P. selysi
Binomial name
Podopteryx selysi (Förster, 1899) [2]

Podopteryx selysi is a species of Australian damselfly in the family Argiolestidae, ^[3] commonly known as a treehole flatwing. ^[4] It can be found in coastal northern Australia and New Guinea, where its larvae live in water-filled holes in tree trunks in rainforest. ^[5]

Podopteryx selysi is a very large damselfly, black-metallic in colour with white to pink markings on its head and body. ^[4] Like other members of the family Argiolestidae, it rests with its wings outspread. ^[6]

Unusually, and possibly uniquely for a damselfly, the hindwings of Podopteryx selysi are longer than its forewings. For other damselflies, forewings are usually marginally longer than hindwings.

Gallery

• 
  Tip of female tail. Note the egg still in her ovipositor.
• 
  Tip of male tail
• 
  Female wings
• 
  Male wings
• 
  Australian Museum specimen

See also

• List of Odonata species of Australia

References

1. Dow, R.A. (2020) [amended version of 2017 assessment]. "Podopteryx selysi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020 e.T87532918A176958418. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T87532918A176958418.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. Förster, G. (1899). "Contributions à la faune odonatologique Indo-Australe". Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique (Comptes-rendus) (in French). 43: 63–72 [70].
3. "Species Podopteryx selysi (Förster, 1899)". Australian Faunal Directory . Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
4. Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 58. ISBN   978-0-64309-073-6.
5. Theischinger, Gunther; Endersby, Ian (2009). Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata (PDF). Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. p. 233. ISBN   978-1-74232-475-3.
6. Watson, J.A.L.; Theischinger, G.; Abbey, H.M. (1991). The Australian Dragonflies: A Guide to the Identification, Distributions and Habitats of Australian Odonata. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN   0-643-05136-8.