Austroargiolestes icteromelas
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The common flatwing (Austroargiolestes icteromelas) is a very common species of damselfly of the subfamily Argiolestinae in the family Argiolestidae. It is also known as an Australian flatwing. Both male and female common flatwings look similar, with a long and slender body about 43 mm in length, and a bright metallic-blue colour. They usually rest with their wings flat open, but females sometimes rest with wings folded up. Their antennae are very small, and their compound eyes are comparatively large. Common flatwings do not use their legs for walking, but for capturing other flying insects in the air, like all other dragonflies and damselflies. They can be found along streams and creeks, are seldom found near still water ponds, but are more likely to be found near slow running water. This species likes to rest within a few metres of a creek or stream, in a shaded area, sometimes resting in large groups among plants. They perch on leaves and, when disturbed, fly a short distance. Common flatwings tolerate people close to them.
Austroargiolestes icteromelas has a two subspecies: Austroargiolestes icteromelas icteromelas, which has a pale mouth (labium) and is from southern... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Flatwing sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 695 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 13th most-seen of the 742 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September and October
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Flatwing in Sydney on a given day, against under 5% in May to July, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Flatwing sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Common Flatwing sightings, Sydney ranks 2nd at about 20%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Brisbane (Australia, about 20%).
Same order: Odonata
The closest relatives of the Common Flatwing that you can see in Sydney (order Odonata, Dragonflies and Damselflies) are Fiery Skimmer (about 20%), Scarlet Percher (about 10%) and Australian Bluetail (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Flatwing is recorded against all the insects logged in Sydney (695 verified sightings), 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.
