Bug FAQCommon Flatwing
Austroargiolestes icteromelas · Order: Odonata · Family: Argiolestidae
The common flatwing is a damselfly about 43 mm long with a bright metallic-blue colour. It rests with its wings spread flat, though females may sometimes fold them. It lives near slow-running streams and creeks in shaded areas, often in groups.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Both sexes look similar, featuring a long slender body and bright metallic-blue colour. They usually rest with wings flat open; females sometimes fold their wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults are about 43 mm long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found along streams and creeks, especially where water runs slowly. Prefers shaded spots a few metres from water, often resting in groups among plants.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Catches flying insects in the air with its legs, like other dragonflies and damselflies.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Occurs in eastern Australia: ACT, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is a very common damselfly of the subfamily Argiolestinae, family Argiolestidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_flatwing
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.