Lestes (Spreadwings)

Large damselflies, brown, black, metallic-green or bronze above, mostly pale below. As they age, parts of the body, including the tip of the abdomen in males, often become pruinose bluish white. Females lay eggs in tandem with males, usually in plants above the surface of the water. The larvae are long and slender with banded gills and an unusually elongated labium. Some species are adapted to temporary ponds; the eggs overwinter and the larvae grow rapidly after the basin fills with water in the winter or spring.

Figure 1. Lestes, male appendages, top view: a, congener; b, unguiculatus; c, disjunctus; d, dryas. A10 = abdominal segment 10; UA, LA = upper, lower appendages

Figure 2. Lestes, tips of female abdomen: a, disjunctus; b, forcipatus. A9 = abdominal segment 9; OV = ovipositor.

Lestes congener (Spotted Spreadwing)

Lestes disjunctus (Northern Spreadwing)

Lestes dryas (Emerald Spreadwing)

Lestes forcipatus (Sweetflag Spreadwing)

Lestes unguiculatus (Lyre-tipped Spreadwing)