colourful bluetail

Ischnura pruinescens is a small to medium-sized damselfly with a wing span around 35 to 50mm. Adult males have a pruinose coating on the synthorax and some of the abdomen. The females have bright yellow or orange on the synthorax and legs, pale green under the abdomen, and blue markings on segments eight and nine.

It is found in Australia and New Guinea. The Australian distribution covers the north-eastern segment of the continent, from the Gold Coast to Cape York Peninsula in Queensland and west to the tropical parts of the Northern Territory.

The genus name Ischnura is derived from the Greek ἰσχνός (ischnos, "thin" or "slender") and οὐρά (oura, "tail"), referring to the slender abdomen of species in the genus. The species name pruinescens is Latin for "becoming frosty", referring to the bluish-grey bloom on the lower thorax and basal segments of the abdomen.