Synlestes weyersii (Selys, 1869)

BRONZE NEEDLE

Family Synlestidae

A male Bronze Needle at Deer Vale, February 22nd 2012

Synlestes weyersii are large damselflies which usually land with their wings spread but occasionally they will slowly close them. The pterostigmas are white or a pinky colour in old specimens.
In suitable habitat they are quite abundant and often seen in groups. If you sit and watch them for a while you may see a couple of males in battle. They physically grasp each other in mid-air and sometimes one or both tumble into the water.

A male Bronze Needle eating a mayfly at Deer Vale, February 8th 2015

A male Bronze Needle at Deer Vale, November 29th, 2014

A female Bronze Needle at Deer Vale on March 10th 2013.

A female Bronze Needle at Deer Vale on November 28th 2014.

The pattern and colour of the female is similar to the male. She has a large ovipositor which is used to lay eggs into rushes and sedges along the edge of a creek.

A pair of Bronze needles mating at Deer Vale on January 6th 2014.

A female laying eggs at Deer Vale on January 6th 2014.

I was lucky to see a pair of Bronze needles mating and subsequently the female laying eggs, as this has rarely been recorded. The male guarded the female while she laid.

This is a video of the egg laying process

A male Bronze Needle guarding a female while she lays eggs at Deer Vale on January 6th 2014.

A group of 3 males at Deep Creek Dorrigo on January 24th 2015.

A male Bronze needle eating a cranefly at Deer Vale on February 26th 2014.