Austrolestes psyche (Hagen, 1862)
CUP RINGTAIL
Family Lestidae
A young Male Cup Ringtail at Deer Vale NSW on November 12th 2011.
A Male Cup Ringtail that was in my hothouse at Deer Vale on October 12th 2014.
A male cup ringtail at Deer Vale NSW on December 15th 2011.
A male cup ringtail at Deer Vale NSW on December 15th 2011.
A female Cup Ringtail at Deer Vale NSW on November 20th 2014.
A female Cup Ringtail at Deer Vale on November 27th 2012.
Austrolestes psyche, the Cup Ringtail is not as common here in Deer Vale NSW as Austrolestes leda, the Wandering Ringtail or Austrolestes cingulatus, the Metallic Ringtail. It can be seen from October to May but is more likely to be found in spring. The male has no mid dorsal marking on abdominal segment 2 but the lateral markings of this segment have a peaked shape. Dorsally the dark background of segment 2 resembles a cup so that is probably where its common name comes from. I have mostly seen them in small dams but also occasionally in swamps.
A female Cup Ringtail cleaning her eye at Deer Vale on November 27th 2012.
A male Cup Ringtail watching a pair of Cup Ringtails at Deer Vale NSW on October 31st 2013.
A pair of Cup Ringtails laying eggs at Deer Vale NSW on October 29th 2014.
A pair of Cup Ringtails at Deer Vale NSW on December 1st 2012.
This male Cup Ringtail did not seem to be interested in the ladybird beetle as a food item. Photo taken at Deer Vale NSW on December 2nd 2014.