Insect
Common Flatwing
Austroargiolestes icteromelasAlso known as Australian Flatwing
Common flatwings deviate from typical damselfly behavior by perching with their clear, patterned wings spread completely flat rather than folded along the abdomen. Inhabiting shaded creeks and rocky rainforest seepages across eastern Australia, they hunt midges and small flies on short, darting sallies from sunlit riparian perches. Females lay eggs directly into submerged aquatic mosses or rotting timber, where the broad-gilled aquatic nymphs develop among stream leaf litter.
DamselflyRiparianForest Insect
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMidges, Mosquitoes, Small flies
Predators
- Forest birds
- Orb-weaver spiders
- Stream-dwelling frogs
ThreatsRiparian habitat clearing, water pollution, and siltation
HabitatsShaded rocky streams, river corridors, and rainforest seepages
Life span1–2 years including nymph phase; adults live 4–8 weeks
Classification
- OrderOdonata
- FamilyArgiolestidae
- GenusAustroargiolestes
- SpeciesAustroargiolestes icteromelas
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Perch spotting: Scan low, sun-dappled foliage and ferns along shaded stream banks where adults bask.
- Slow approach: Move gradually from downstream without casting direct shadows across their perch.
Frequent Companion (c) gailhampshire, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative (c) gwynmwilliams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family (c) Vicki Archer, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Ecosystem chain
Wetland Territory
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