Aurora Bluetail: Ischnura Aurora

Aurora Bluetail, Male

Aurora Bluetail, Female

Location: South West Coast, Western Australia

Season: Summer, January

Order: Odonata 

Suborder: Zygoptera 

Family: Coenagrionidae 

Genus: Ischnura

Ischnura aurora

The above male and female Aurora Bluetail Damselflies were spotted on two separate occasions, in separate parts of my garden, making me assume that there are many of these living in the area. There is no fresh water source close to the garden. The vegetation is dry but both were on relatively greener and cooler parts.

These are tiny damselflies, about 2 cms in length and very thin. The male has metallic green thorax with black antehumeral stripes. The abdomen is red with a bronze tip and a green ring, ends with a blue 'tail'. The female is all green. It was quite dull in the shade but the metallic green sheen was brilliant in the sunlight. The female also has blue tail which I noticed only in the photograph. The male hovered around and didn't seem like a strong flier. The female was still but unexpectedly flew away out of my reach, which is why the picture isn't in detail.

Please see other damselflies that I have recorded in the family of Coenagrionidae:  Red and Blue Damsel and South West Billabong Fly.

Reference: Ecology Solutions, Wiki, Esperance Fauna