Argiocnemis rubescens

Description

Argiocnemis rubescens is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as the red-tipped shadefly. It is a widespread species extending from India to southern China, south-east Asia, New Guinea and Australia. It prefers fresh still waters such as pools, marshes and swamps. The adult is a small to medium-sized damselfly with a length of 35 to 40mm, and the hindwing less than 22mm. When immature it is a pale reddish brown. The mature male is dark with pale green stripes on the thorax, and red on segments 8 and 9. In Australia, the distribution is in suitable habitat from Shark Bay in the west, across the north of the continent, to about Point Hicks in the south-east. The taxon has been assessed in the IUCN Red List as least concern. The species name rubescens is a Latin word meaning reddish. Edmond de Sélys Longchamps named this species of damselfly after the colour of the upper surface of its abdomen.