[5] It typically occurs near lakes, waterfalls or streams at relatively low altitudes, and is occasionally seen near dry pools.

Larvae are wide and flat, with long saccoid gills to breathe underwater.

[7] The male tropical rockmaster has a bright blue and black body with dark wings.

It can be distinguished from the sapphire rockmaster (Diphlebia coerulescens) by the smaller size of blue markings at the base (front end) and underside of terga 4 to 6.

[8] Forster collected what is now classified as the same species from around Port Moresby in New Guinea in 1910 and named it Diphlebia reinholdi.