Diphlebia coerulescens (Tillyard, 1913)

SAPPHIRE ROCKMASTER

Family Diphlebiidae

A male Sapphire Rockmaster at Sherwood Nature Reserve NSW on 15th December 2014.

A female Sapphire Rockmaster at Cedar Creek, Tamborine National Park Queensland on 2nd November 2014.

A male Sapphire Rockmaster at Cedar Creek, TamborineNational Park Queensland on 2nd November 2014.

I was hoping to see this gorgeous damselfly when we visited the Tamborine National Park in Queensland in spring. The little creeks we saw were mostly dry so hope dwindled. Fortunately Cedar creek was still flowing so as I scrambled over rocks in the creek I saw a few of the distinctively stout bright blue damselflies which turned out to be Diphlebia coerulescens . They were very wary and difficult to get close to.

Visiting a similar creek in the Sherwood nature Reserve inland from Red Rock NSW in December 2014, I glimpsed a blue rockmaster on a leaf. I assumed it was an Arrowhead Rockmaster which I photographed later further up the creek. It was months later when I realised the first Diphlebia I saw that day was actually the Sapphire Rockmaster Diphlebia coerulescens!