Damselflies of the World
Damselflies of the World
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    • Home
    • Damselflies of the World
      • European Damselflies
      • South America
      • African Damselflies
    • About Damselflies
      • About Damselflies
      • Damselflies in General
      • Life Cycle
      • Anatomy
      • Behaviour
      • Reproduction
      • Habitat
    • Get involved
  • Home
  • Damselflies of the World
    • European Damselflies
    • South America
    • African Damselflies
  • About Damselflies
    • About Damselflies
    • Damselflies in General
    • Life Cycle
    • Anatomy
    • Behaviour
    • Reproduction
    • Habitat
  • Get involved

Lestes dryas (emerald spreadwing)

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Sex: Male

This is a photo of a dead specimen kept in the Natural History Museum.

    Common Name(s)

    Emerald spreadwing, Scarce emerald damselfly, Robust spreadwing, Turlough spreadwing 

    Distribution

    Found across North America, Northern Eurasia, parts of the Mediterranean and in Morocco. 

    Identification

    A large damselfly with a green metallic body that spreads its wings when at rest. They are very similar to other members of the genus Lestes. Some distinguishing features amongst the males are blue eyes and blue pruinescence on segments 1,2,9 and 10 of the abdomen, as well as on the pronotum and sides of the thorax. However, immature males lack these features and instead have eyes of a greenish brown colour. Lestes dryas has black anal appendages. The shape of anal appendages can be used to discern between different species of Lestes.

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