Spreadwing Damselflies (Lestidae)

Identifying one can be a fairly easy task given the fact that they prominently display open wings while at rest.

Like most damselflies, they prefer still or slow moving water habitats, where they perch and fly in search of both food and mates.

The California Spreadwing (Archilestes californicus), a Western stream spreadwing, lives from Washington State to Southern California during the late summer and fall seasons.

The two stripes on the thorax serve as the primary field identification clue. Along the with bronze body, males have blue eyes and females have brown eyes.

Most spreadwing damselflies belong to the genus Lestes, and perhaps the Common Spreadwing or Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus) broadly represents the genus.

Widely distributed in northern North America, a few of its physical features stand out.

The second picture highlights the male's blue eyes, along with the metallic green body and. In mature adults, a pruinose pale blue thorax and bottom abdomen, serve as good identification clues.

The Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas), a northern species, gets easily recognized by the emerald green color on the top of the thorax and abdomen.

They are often one of the first damselflies to appear in spring.

Two dark spots on either side of the thorax differentiate the Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener) from other western Lestes species.

The spots may or may not be visible on the video, however, the species is known to practice tandem oviposition.

The identification in the video is made based primarily on the pattern of the white on the side of the thorax.

The video also shows the pair engaged in tandem ovipositing. The phrase basically means that the placement of fertilized eggs is done together.

Of course, only the female has the capacity to lay eggs. However, in tandem ovipositing, after mating, the male physically latches onto the female until oviposition occurs in order to insure the continuation of his gene pool.

© 2009-2011. Patricia A. Michaels.