Austrolestes minjerriba

Identification: Body length 34-39 mm. Wingspan 38-41 mm. Adults patterned in dark metallic green or bronze, and pale blue. Front of synthorax dark, with a thin pale humeral stripe, with or without a tiny, separate pale spot at lower rear end. Abdomen dark above, with a series of rings at segment bases. Male often has a small, central pale spot in dark patch on top of A2 or, rarely, a patch divided by pale transverse ‘arrow’; A7 has a pale basal ring occupying about one-fifth of its length. A10 dark in male and female.

Habitat: Coastal, brownwater dune lakes and swamps.

Distribution in SEQ: Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and Yarun (Bribie Island). Possibly occurs in coastal heathlands on Sunshine Coast.

Similar local species: Wandering Ringtail (Austrolestes leda). Cup Ringtail (Austrolestes psyche) very similar, but humeral stripe on synthorax never has tiny pale spot at end. Male has no pale central spot or band on A2, and pale basal ring on A7 of abdomen is only about one-tenth its length or less. Inland Ringtail (Austrolestes aridus) has humeral stripe on synthorax with larger triangular or L-shaped patch at rear end; A9, A10 of male abdomen are blue.