Common Redcoat Damselfly

<em>Xanthocnemis zealandica</em>, the common redcoat damselfly, is an insect in the family Coenagrionidae, order Odonata. Endemic to New Zealand, it is among the most frequently encountered damselflies in the archipelago, typically found near still and slow-flowing freshwater habitats including ponds, streams, swamps, and lake margins. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its relatively widespread presence across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Males typically display vivid red coloration on the abdomen, contrasting with darker thoracic markings, while females are generally more cryptically colored. Like all odonates, <em>Xanthocnemis zealandica</em> undergoes incomplete metamorphosis, with aquatic larval stages (naiads) living in freshwater sediments before emerging as terrestrial adults. Adults are aerial predators, typically capturing small flying insects such as midges and gnats using their basket-like legs. Larvae are also predatory, feeding on aquatic invertebrates within benthic substrates. Biological traits such as lifespan and body measurements remain poorly documented at the population level for this taxon, though adult lifespans are typically short in odonates, measured in weeks to a few months. It is a valued indicator species for freshwater habitat quality.