Griseargiolestes albescens (Tillyard, 1913)

COASTAL FLATWING

Family Megapodagrionidae

A female Coastal Flatwing at the Sherwood Creek Reserve, NSW on December 15th 2014.

Coastal Flatwings are not Common in NSW and are more likely to be seen in Queensland. The most distinguishing feature of this flatwing is the pruinescent tip of the abdomen. The sides of the synthorax are also strongly pruinescent in the adult.

The coastal Flatwing is much more petite than the Common Flatwing Austroargiolestes icteromelas.

A male Coastal Flatwing at Red Rock on March 12th 2012.

Anal appendages of a male Coastal Flatwing.

The coastal flatwing does not have the distinct white patches on the medial lobe of the pronotum as the grey-chested flatwing does. Also its pterostigmas are much darker. At left is a close-up of the anal appendages of a male Coastal Flatwing. The superior anal appendages are evenly curved and the inferior appendages are short and blunt.

A young male Coastal Flatwing at the Sherwood Creek Reserve, NSW on December 15th 2014.

On the lateral view you can see that the bottom of the synthorax is all yellow apart from a narrow black strip on the metepimeron (Marked by a red arrow).

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Thoracic pattern on a young male Coastal Flatwing at the Sherwood Creek Reserve, NSW on December 15th 2014.

In NSW the Coastal Flatwing has mainly been seen in autumn but collections from September on into June have been made in Queensland.

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A mature male Coastal Flatwing at Red Rock, NSW on May 5th 2012.