Spread-winged Damselfly - Archilestes grandis

I agree that either Spotted S

I agree that either Spotted Spreadwing or Great Spreadwing is the likely suspect. We have Spotted here now, and while I haven't seen Great this year I remember that it was a late season flyer. Spotted is more slender, while the Great is huge, as the name implies. Great Spreadwings can reach almost 2.5 inches.

I agree with John and Jane that it would be great if you could go back and get a side view. Great Spreadwing would have bright yellow on the lower sides of its thorax. Spotted generally has two small dark spots in the white area on the lower sides of its thorax.

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

… Stephen Cresswell, 1 October, 2004 - 4:52am

Spotted Spreadwing

The dark Lestes we have active now here in the Chicago area is Lestes congener, the spotted spreadwing. The openness of the claspers points in that direction for your specimen and we think we see white on the side of the thorax, but would need a photo of the side from a little below to see those diagnostic spots. If you have a side shot you might post that for another view and a better ID. Was it closer to one inch in length or two?

… john and jane balaban, 30 September, 2004 - 6:41pm

Spread-winged Damselfly from Bacon Creek Park

Can anyone give me the correct species name?

… Loren Hansen, 30 September, 2004 - 10:03am

Great Spreadwing

This is a male Great Spreadwing (Lestes grandis). They are out in good numbers now, at least in eastern Nebraska.

Loren Padelford
Bellevue, NE

… Loren & Babs Padelford, 30 September, 2004 - 10:48am