Austroargiolestes isabellae
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
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 →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sydney Flatwing sighting in Royal National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 147th most-seen of the 175 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Sydney Flatwing in Royal National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December to August, the lowest months.
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.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Sydney Flatwing sightings, Royal National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Blue Mountains National Park (Australia, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Sydney Flatwing is recorded against all the insects logged in Royal National Park (6 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.
