Argiocnemis rubescens | |
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Male, Queensland | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Odonata |
Suborder: | Zygoptera |
Family: | Coenagrionidae |
Genus: | Argiocnemis |
Species: | A. rubescens
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Binomial name | |
Argiocnemis rubescens | |
Argiocnemis rubescens is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae,[2] commonly known as the red-tipped shadefly.[3] It is a widespread species extending from India to southern China, south-east Asia, New Guinea and Australia.[3]
Argiocnemis rubescens prefers fresh still waters such as pools, marshes and swamps. The adult is a small to medium-sized damselfly with a length of 35 to 40mm, and the hindwing less than 22mm. When immature it is a pale reddish brown. The mature male is dark with pale green stripes on the thorax, and red on segments 8 and 9. In Australia, the distribution is in suitable habitat from Shark Bay in the west, across the north of the continent, to about Point Hicks in the south-east.[3] The taxon has been assessed in the IUCN Red List as least concern.
The species name rubescens is a Latin word meaning reddish. Edmond de Sélys Longchamps named this species of damselfly after the colour of the upper surface of its abdomen.[1][4]