Another damselfly flew in to have his/her photo taken when we popped into Gore Gardens on our way home in the afternoon. Nigel had his cellphone handy and took these photos. Gore, Southland, New Zealand. Photos taken 24 Feb 2020.
Our first damselfly encounter had been in Invercargill earlier in the day.
Mike Powell, any chance there’s enough detail for you to tell me the gender?
The damselfly flew in and clung on to this camellia leaf.
Click on either photo to enlarge
Text by Liz, photos by Nigel; Exploring Colour (2020)
Exploring Colour 
It looks like a male to me, though the species is, of course, not one that I am used to seeing. The key is usually looking at the terminal appendages, i.e. the tip of the “tail” section. The closest damselfly that I could think of that I have photographed with a similar terminal appendage was a male Great Spreadwing damselfly (https://michaelqpowell.com/2015/10/12/great-spreadwing-damselfly-male/). For comparison sake, check out my photo of a female Great Spreadwing damselfly (https://michaelqpowell.com/2015/10/11/great-spreadwing-damselfly-female/). I think that you will agree that it looks more like a male.
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Totally agree Mike.. thanks so much!
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You’re welcome. I noted on-line that there is a guide available for Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Zealand. (https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/dragonflies-and-damselflies-of-new-zealand/). It is a bit pricey here in the US, but may be cheaper there and is available as an e-book too.
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Interesting Mike! I looked at their free extract which said we only have one blue odonate in NZ so I guess this has to be “Blue Damselfly” or Austrolestes colensonis which luckily for me was featured in the extract 🙂
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This link tends to support the id of your damselfly as male, because it has detailed shots of the last two segments of the male and female abdomens. https://inaturalist.nz/guide_taxa/360129
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Amazing, yes! And their picture of a female is very like the damselfly I photographed in Invercargill.
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You mean the damsel in Gore wasn’t you?
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🙂
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When I read the title of this post I was expecting to find a squashed damselfly!
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Hahaha.. LOL 🙂
The damsel was not in distress.
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I was pleased to find out 🙂
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