Austrolestes
genus of damselflies
Austrolestes is a genus of medium to large-sized damselflies in the family Lestidae.
Description
Austrolestes damselflies sit with their wings folded completely back.
Males are usually bright blue and black, the females duller.
Distribution
Members of this genus are found in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific islands.
Etymology
The genus name Austrolestes combines the prefix austro- (from Latin auster, meaning “south wind”, hence “southern”) with Lestes, a genus name derived from Greek λῃστής (lēstēs, “robber”). The name refers to a southern representative of that group.
Species
The genus Austrolestes includes the following species:
Etymology
The genus name Austrolestes is derived from the latin word auster meaning south wind, hence south; and the damselfly genus Lestes, which is from the Greek word λῃστής meaning a robber.
In 1913, Robin Tillyard described the genus Austrolestes as having characters similar to the very large genus Lestes, which, unlike Austrolestes, sit with their wings outspread.
“Austrolestes” enters the record as genus of damselflies. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Austrolestes, genus and damselflies can confirm, complicate or overturn.
Why this record matters
“Austrolestes” is worth following because a concise public description often conceals a longer documentary argument. Here, Austrolestes, genus and damselflies provides the most credible route into that argument.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 28, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2753910. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1913.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Austrolestes”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Austrolestes primary sources, Austrolestes archive and Austrolestes research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Austrolestes”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Austrolestes” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.