Synlestes selysi

{{Short description|Species of damselfly}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Forest needle

| image = Synlestes selysi female dorsal.jpg

| image_caption = Female

| image2 = Synlestes selysi male.jpg

| image2_caption = Male

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Dow, R.A. |date=2017 |title=Synlestes selysi |volume=2017 |page=e.T87537484A87540134 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T87537484A87540134.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

| taxon = Synlestes selysi

| authority = Tillyard, 1917{{Cite journal|last=Tillyard|first=R.J.|year=1917|title=On some new dragonflies from Australia and Tasmania (Order Odonata)|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6372412|journal=Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales|volume=42|pages=450–479 [473]|doi=10.5962/bhl.part.4860|via=Biodiversity Heritage Library|doi-access=free|bibcode=1917PLSNS..42..450T }}

| range_map = Synlestes selysi distribution map.svg

}}

Synlestes selysi is a species of Australian damselfly in the family Synlestidae,{{Cite web|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Synlestes_selysi |title=Species Synlestes selysi Tillyard, 1917|date=2012|website=Australian Faunal Directory|publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study|access-date=15 April 2017}}

commonly known as a forest needle.{{Cite book|title=The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia|last1=Theischinger|first1=Günther|last2=Hawking|first2=John|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-64309-073-6|location=Collingwood, Victoria, Australia|pages=26}}

It is endemic to eastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland, where it inhabits streams.{{cite book|title=Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata|last2=Endersby|first2=Ian|date=2009|publisher=Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW|isbn=978-1-74232-475-3|pages=237|last1=Theischinger|first1=Gunther|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/publications/09730AustOdonata.pdf}}

Synlestes selysi is a large to very large damselfly, coloured a metallic green-black with pale markings. It perches with its wings partially or fully outspread.{{Cite book|title=The Australian Dragonflies: A Guide to the Identification, Distributions and Habitats of Australian Odonata|last1=Watson|first1=J.A.L.|last2=Theischinger|first2=G.|last3=Abbey|first3=H.M.|publisher=CSIRO|year=1991|isbn=0643051368|location=Melbourne}}