Synlestes selysi (Tillyard, 1917)

FOREST NEEDLE

Family Synlestidae

Two views of a male Forest Needle at a tributory of the Bellinger River Thora December 10th 2014

Synlestes selysi is an enigmatic damselfly. Unlike Synlestes weyersii the Bronze Needle, which can be found in large numbers along the creeks it inhabits, Synlestes selysi is difficult to find and from what I have seen it tends to lurk in the shade.
Even though the markings on the two specimens I photographed seem quite bright, they are amazingly cryptic amongst the leaves they land upon.

Two views of a female Forest Needle at a tributory of the Bellinger River Thora December 10th 2014