Species Lestes vigilax - Swamp Spreadwing

Author of species is Hagen in Selys, 1862.

Length 42-55 mm

Large, metallic colored, male has brilliant blue eyes, female brown eyes. Compare Common Spreadwing, L. disjunctus, and Sweetflag Spreadwing, L. forcipatus. Southern populations of this speces are dark, less emerald green than northern populations. Identification of Lestes species is difficult. See Lam (1) for discussion.

Eastern North America: southeastern Canada south to Florida, west to Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas.

Shaded vegetated ponds, swamps, usually more acidic waters.

May-October

Predatory

Oviposition is done in tandem in stalks of emergent vegetation, just above waterline.

A common and widespread Spreadwing.

Lam, p. 27, illustrates the northern form (1)

Dunkle, p. 42-43, figs. 25, 26 (2)

Nikula, p. 50 illustrates the northern form, very green (3)

Abbott, pp. 44-45, photos 4e, 4f (4)

Giff Beaton's page on Spreadwings--illustrates very dark southern form of species

Gloria Mundi Press account

New Jersey Odes

Odonata Central account

Odonata of North America, Updated September 2007