Indolestes tenuissimus

Indolestes tenuissimus is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae,^[3] commonly known as the slender reedling.^[4] It is found in north-eastern Australia, New Guinea and on Aru.^[4]

Slender reedling
Slender reedling, Cairns, Queensland
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Family:	Lestidae
Genus:	Indolestes
Species:	I. tenuissimus
Binomial name
Indolestes tenuissimus (Tillyard, 1906)[2]

Its natural habitats are freshwater swamps, ponds and pools. The adult is a medium-sized damselfly (wingspan 50mm, length 45mm) with the thorax being mainly pale blue with darker patches. The abdomen is mid to dark grey on dorsal surfaces, lighter below, with segment ten forming a distinct pale band. The male superior anal appendages are sinuate.^[4] In Australia, the distribution is in suitable habitat in the north-eastern part of the continent from the tip of Cape York Peninsula to central Queensland.^[4] The taxon has been assessed in the IUCN Red List as being of least concern, and it appears in the Catalogue of Life.

Gallery

• 
  Lateral view, male
• 
  Close-up of head and thorax
• 
  Close-up of male tail with sinuate appendages
• 
  Female
• 
  Female wings
• 
  Male wings

References

1. Dow, R.A. (2017). "Indolestes tenuissimus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T87534435A87539954. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T87534435A87539954.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. Tillyard, R.J. (1906). "New Australian species of the family Agrionidae (Neuroptera: Odonata)". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 31: 177–194 [179] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. "Species Indolestes tenuissimus (Tillyard, 1906)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
4. Theischinger, G; Hawking, J (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 978 0 64309 073 6.

External links

• Catalogue of Life - Indolestes tenuissimus