Forest Needle (Synlestes selysi)

The Forest Needle (Synlestes selysi) is a damselfly species of the family Synlestidae, which contains 6 species in Australia.

The identification key to the family Synlestidae consists of 8 couplets, 3 of which are pertinent to Synlestes selysi. Click on the numbers on the right to display the corresponding couplets. Or click on the ALLin1 button to see all the relevant couplets together in a single, scrollable window.

#	Family	Species	Couplet No.
	Synlestidae	Forest Needle (Synlestes selysi)	Synlestidae: Key couplet 1 of 8 ○ Anal appendages in both sexes and at least segment 10 of female substantially dark ⇒ genus: Synlestes b ↑ Synlestidae: Key couplet 7 of 8 ● Pterostigma dark brown to black, less than 2.0 mm long, generally overlying two cells, sometimes three ○ Pronotum pale ochraceus, without black or metallic markings ● Male inferior anal appendages not reaching inner, basal prong of superior appendages a ↑ Synlestidae: Key couplet 8 of 8 ● Proepimeron pale ochraceus with distinct, brownish black or metallic patch on upper surface ● Male superior anal appendages with inner subapical tooth ⇒ species: Forest Needle (Synlestes selysi) a ↑
1			Synlestidae: Key couplet 1 of 8 ○ Anal appendages in both sexes and at least segment 10 of female substantially white ⇒ genus: Episynlestes a ↑ b ↓ ○ Anal appendages in both sexes and at least segment 10 of female substantially dark ⇒ genus: Synlestes
2			Synlestidae: Key couplet 7 of 8 ● Pterostigma dark brown to black, less than 2.0 mm long, generally overlying two cells, sometimes three ○ Pronotum pale ochraceus, without black or metallic markings ● Male inferior anal appendages not reaching inner, basal prong of superior appendages a ↑ b ↓ ● Pterostigma yellowish to brown, longer than 2.0 mm, generally overlying three to five cells ○ Pronotum black or metallic, with yellow anterior and posterior margins ● Male inferior anal appendages extending slightly beyond inner, basal prong of superiors ⇒ species: Bronze Needle (Synlestes weyersii)
3			Synlestidae: Key couplet 8 of 8 ● Proepimeron pale ochraceus with distinct, brownish black or metallic patch on upper surface ● Male superior anal appendages with inner subapical tooth ⇒ species: Forest Needle (Synlestes selysi) a ↑ b ↓ ○ Proepimeron pale ochraceus without dark marks ● Male superior appendages without inner, subapical tooth ⇒ species: Tropical Needle (Synlestes tropicus)