Phil Bendle Collection:Damselfly (Blue Green) Austrolestes colensonis

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
suborder Zygoptera
Family: Lestidae
Genus: Austrolestes
Species: Austrolestes colensonis
Common name: Damselfly ( Blue/Green). Maori name is Tiemieme meaning "to lurch up and down".  The males do this with their abdomen. also called kekewai

Damselflies are similar but smaller than dragonflies and they hold their wings folded up, rather than open, when stationary.
Austrolestes colensonis is New Zealand's largest native damselfly and it can change the colour of its body to help in thermoregulation. To regulate their body temperature they change their colour, going darker to receive more warmth. It is reported that most of their brain power is devoted to processing images through their large eyes.
Austrolestes colensonis flies between the months of October and May and is usually seen close to still water, rushes and reeds. The immature nymphs live in the water and swim by wriggling. The adults eat flying insects.

Only the male is blue, the female is greener.

Photo of mating Austrolestes colensonis.
[1]

Blue male
[2]

Green female.photos below.
[3]

[4]

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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