''Austrolestes'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of medium to large-sized

damselflies Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies (which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Epiprocta) but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the win ...

in the family

Lestidae The Lestidae are a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender Damselfly, damselflies, known commonly as the spreadwings or spread-winged damselflies. Characteristics While most Zygoptera, damselflies rest with their wings folded ...

. ''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 Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

and

South Pacific islands The Pacific islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of several ...

Species

The genus ''Austrolestes'' includes the following species:

Etymology

The genus name ''Austrolestes'' is derived from the latin word auster meaning south wind, hence south; and the damselfly genus ''

Lestes ''Lestes'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Lestidae. The family hold their wings at about 45 degrees to the body when resting. This distinguishes them from most other species of damselflies which hold the wings along, and parallel to, the ...

'', 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.

References

* * {{Taxonbar , from=Q2753910 Lestidae Zygoptera genera Odonata of Oceania Odonata of Australia Odonata of New Zealand Taxa named by Robert John Tillyard Insects described in 1913 Damselflies