Cup ringtail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cup ringtail
Female
Male
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification

The Cup Ringtail (Austrolestes psyche) is a cool type of damselfly found in Australia. These amazing insects are close relatives of dragonflies. They are known for their beautiful colors and graceful way of flying near water.

Meet the Cup Ringtail Damselfly!

The Cup Ringtail is a special insect that lives in south-eastern Australia. It belongs to a family of insects called Lestidae. Damselflies are often confused with dragonflies, but there are some easy ways to tell them apart.

What is a Damselfly?

Damselflies are flying insects with long, slender bodies and two pairs of strong, clear wings. When they rest, most damselflies hold their wings together over their back. This is different from dragonflies, which usually hold their wings out flat. Damselflies also have eyes that are usually separated, not touching each other like many dragonflies.

Where Do Cup Ringtails Live?

Cup Ringtails love to be near water! You can find them in places like calm pools, large lakes, and wet swamps. These watery homes are important because damselflies lay their eggs in the water. Their young, called nymphs, also live underwater before they grow into adults.

What Do They Look Like?

The Cup Ringtail is a medium-sized to large damselfly. The male Cup Ringtail is quite striking with its bright light blue and black markings. Females often have slightly different colors, which helps them blend in with their surroundings. Both males and females have delicate wings that help them fly quickly and gracefully.

The Cup Ringtail's Life Story

Like all damselflies, the Cup Ringtail starts its life as an egg laid in water. The egg hatches into a larva, also called a nymph. This nymph lives underwater, hunting tiny water creatures. It breathes using special gills. After growing and shedding its skin several times, the nymph crawls out of the water. It then sheds its skin one last time to become a beautiful adult damselfly. The adult damselfly lives for only a few weeks or months, flying around, finding a mate, and laying eggs to start the cycle again.

Are Cup Ringtails Safe?

The Cup Ringtail damselfly is currently listed as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN. This means that scientists believe this species is not in danger of disappearing right now. It's important to protect their watery homes so these beautiful insects can continue to thrive.

Gallery

• 

  Young adult male

• 

  Mating pair

• 

  Mating pair from behind

• 

  Female wings

• 

  Male wings