Lestes congener (Spotted Spreadwing)

BC conservation rank: S5. Yellow List.
Description: Thorax top is dark brown or black with narrow pale stripes; the pale underside has several (usually three) dark spots on each side. The male's lower appendages are much shorter than those of any other BC species - only half as long as upper appendages (fig. 1). Length: male, female 40 mm.
Global Range: British Columbia east through the Northwest Territories to Labrador and Newfoundland; south to Alabama, Missouri, New Mexico and California (Westfall and May 1996). Faunal element: Widespread. (see Appendix 2).
BC Distribution: Widespread, especially in the south; seldom collected north of Prince George, especially westward.
Biology: Common in many types of wetlands, from alkaline ponds (Gs01-03) to sedge, cattail and bulrush marshes (Wm01-02, Wm04-07) and peatlands (Wf05-08). In BC, it emerges later than other spreadwings and is the last damselfly seen in autumn.
BC flight period: early June to mid November; most records are from mid July to early October.

Lestes congener mating pair. Photograph: George Doerksen, RBCM

Lestes congener Map 1. Geographical distribution and seasonal abundance of records in British Columbia.

Lestes congenerMap 2. Geographical distribution of records in British Columbia before and after organized surveys began in 1996.

Lestes congener Map 3. Frequency of records in British Columbia by NTS 1/50,000 mapsheet.

Lestes congener Map 4. Frequency of collection localities in British Columbia by NTS 1/50,000 mapsheet.