Sydney Flatwing

Sydney Flatwing

Austroargiolestes isabellae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Blue Mountains National Park

In 3 days ~40% in a week ~60%

77 Verified sightings at Blue Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
83 In all 2 parks
October Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Sydney Flatwing

Austroargiolestes isabellae is a species of Australian damselfly in the family Argiolestidae, commonly known as a Sydney flatwing. Endemic to the Sydney district, it inhabits streams and boggy areas. It is a medium-sized to large, black and pale yellow damselfly, often with some pruinescence on adult bodies.

Like other members of the Argiolestidae, it rests with its wings outspread. The genus name Austroargiolestes combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Argiolestes, the name of a related genus. It refers to a southern representative of that group.

In 1986, Günther Theischinger and Tony O'Farrell named this species isabellae, an eponym honouring Mary Isabel O’Farrell, wife of the second author. List of Odonata species of Australia Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
2 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Sydney Flatwing in Blue Mountains National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sydney Flatwing sighting in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 77 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 42nd most-seen of the 789 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Sydney Flatwing in Blue Mountains National Park?

September to December

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Sydney Flatwing in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February to August, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Sydney Flatwing?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Sydney Flatwing sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Blue Mountains National Park the best place to see a Sydney Flatwing?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Sydney Flatwing sightings, Blue Mountains National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Royal National Park (Australia, about 10%).

Where does the Sydney Flatwing sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Sydney Flatwing is recorded against all the insects logged in Blue Mountains National Park (77 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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