Lestes unguiculatus (Lyre-tipped Spreadwing)

BC conservation rank: S5. Yellow List.
Description: Similar to the Northern Spreadwing, but the tips of the male's lower appendages curve outward something like the shape of a lyre (fig. 1), which gives the species its English name. On most, the back of the head is mostly pale, especially in females, which do not darken with age as much as males. Length: male 37 mm, female 35 mm.
Global Range: : British Columbia east to Nova Scotia; south to District of Columbia, Tennessee, Texas and California (Westfall and May 1996). Faunal element: Widespread (see Appendix 2).
BC Distribution: A distinctly southern species; most common in the southern valleys. Widespread south of about 56°N; the only locality in the northern BC study area is in the Tumbler Ridge area, over 400 km north of the other BC records (see species distribution map).
Biology: Typical of warm ponds at low elevations, especially temporary and alkaline ponds (Gs01-03; Wm04-07). Less commonly, it lives in peatland pools and sedge fens in the mountains (Wm01; Wf01, 05-06). This is a species that deserves more ecological study.
BC flight period: early June to mid September; all records are from late June to late August.

Lestes unguiculatus male. Photograph: George Doerksen, RBCM

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

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

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

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