Red damselfly (Xanthocnemis)

Taxonomic group

Coenagrionidae: Xanthocnemis

Diagnostic features

Xanthocnemis damselfly larvae are easily distinguished by the pointed tail gills with long hairs near the tip.

[Xanthocnemis]. Image: Stephen Moore Image — Xanthocnemis. Image: Stephen Moore

[Xanthocnemis]. Pointed tail gills with long hairs. Image: Stephen Moore Image — Xanthocnemis. Pointed tail gills with long hairs. Image: Stephen Moore

Typical habitats

Xanthocnemis larvae occur in stony and weedy streams and ponds throughout New Zealand. The adults are the distinctive red damselflies often seen flying amongst stream-side vegetation.

Feeding

They are predators, often waiting for unsuspecting invertebrate prey swimming or crawling though weed beds.

Indicator value

Hard bottom: 5
Soft bottom: 1.2

The tolerance values (ranging from 0 to 10) give an indication of which are the sensitive taxa (values of 8 or more) and which are the tolerant taxa (values of 3 or less). For more information see: Indicator species

Xanthocnemis are not useful indicators of water quality as they are common in both polluted and unpolluted waters. They have tolerance values of 5 (hard bottom sites) and 1.2 (soft bottom sites).