Austrolestes colensonis
This is our largest damselfly species and the only blue member of the order Odonata in New Zealand These insects also change colour intensity as temperatures change.
We have had dragonfly nominees before, but this our first damselfly. While dragonflies and damselflies look similar and are part of the same order (Odonata), damselflies rest with their wings held above and in line with the body, while dragonflies rest with their wings projected out to the side.
Blue damselfly naiads (the larval stage) are aquatic predators. While not territorial, they defend their perches with aggressive posturing and motions when rivals get too close. They will even slash and nip each other, sometimes causing the target to lose a leg. When the winged damselfly adult is ready to emerge, the naiad climbs clear of the water. The naiad exoskeleton splits lengthwise along the back, and the adult begins to pull itself clear. Once free of the old naiad body, the damselfly expands and hardens its wings and body. Blue damselflies emerge with an appetite. They don’t have much in the way of reserves to sustain them from the naiad stage and are known to eat each other.
This is New Zealand’s only blue species of Odonata, and males are bluer than females, and in both sexes colour intensity is influenced by temperature. They more look comparatively dull on a cool morning and more vividly coloured on a sunny, warm afternoon.
Check these links for more info on the Blue Damselfly in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on the Blue Damselfly
images
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