Austrolestes aleison

Western Ringtail (Austrolestes aleison)

Inhabits riverine pools, lakes and ponds, including temporary ponds

© 2011 DECCW, NSW; 2021 Ian Endersby and DragonflyPix.com

• Lestidae: Key couplet 1 of 15

• 
• ● Quadrilateral cell of hindwing more than 1.15 times, usually 1.3-1.5 times longer than that of forewing

• Lestidae: Key couplet 2 of 15

• 
  
• ● Front of synthorax unicolorous or striped, the stripe not expanded near centre
  ● Ac generally near Ax1, basal or distal, occasionally almost midway between Ax1 and Ax2
  
  ⇒ genus: Austrolestes

• Lestidae: Key couplet 5 of 15

• 
  
• ● Central part of pterostigma overlying one or more crossveins of adjoining row
  ● Ac closer to level of Ax1 than of Ax2, sometimes basal to Ax1
  ○ Abdominal tergum 2 with well-defined light and dark pattern, sometimes like that of dark A. insularis (see above), or substantially dark

• Lestidae: Key couplet 6 of 15

• 
• ● Pale humeral stripe narrow, with at most a small upper patch extending across mesopleural suture, not meeting subalar ridge

• Lestidae: Key couplet 8 of 15

• 
• ● Humeral stripe not extending across mesopleural suture

• Lestidae: Key couplet 11 of 15

• 
• ○ Abdominal tergum 2 without pale basal spot
  ● Superior appendages of male forcipate, converging at tips

• Lestidae: Key couplet 12 of 15

• ○ Abdominal tergum 2 without pale mid-dorsal stripe

• Lestidae: Key couplet 13 of 15

• 
  
• ● Ac distal to Ax1 in forewing
  ● Abdominal terga 3-7 of male substantially dark, with pale basal rings

• Lestidae: Key couplet 14 of 15

• 
• ● Pale ring at base of abdominal tergum 7 occupying approximately 10% of length of segment, or less

• Lestidae: Key couplet 15 of 15

• 
• ○ From south-western Australia
  ● Dorsal mark on abdominal tergum 2 of male strongly constricted at centre, forming narrow stem
  
  ⇒ species: Western Ringtail (Austrolestes aleison)