Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Lestes congener - Spotted Spreadwing

Spotted Spreadwing - Lestes congener spotted spreadwing - Lestes congener damselfly - Lestes congener - male Head and thorax - Lestes congener Spreadwing - Lestes congener - male Lots of Spreadwings flitting about - Lestes congener - male Spotted spreadwing - Lestes congener - female Blue Eyed Damselfly - Lestes congener - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies)
Family Lestidae (Spreadwings)
Genus Lestes
Species congener (Spotted Spreadwing)
Explanation of Names
Author of species is Hagen, 1861.
Size
body 30-40 mm
Identification
Two black spots on the ventrolateral surface of the thorax are diagnostic and give the species its common name; thorax black dorsally.
Range
most of North America except southeastern states (LA FL GA SC NC)
Habitat
margins of ponds, marshes, swamps and sometimes slow-moving water
Season
latest of the spreadwings; late summer through fall, sometimes into November
Print References
Lam, p. 30 (1)
Abbott, p. 36 , photos 2d, 2e (2)
Nikula, p. 48 (3)
Internet References
scanned adult images of male and female (U. of Puget Sound, Washington)
live adult images and other info (Stephen Cresswell, West Virginia)
live adult images and other info (Ed Lam, New York)
live adult images (Arizona Odonates)
live adult images and other info (njodes.com)
distribution map - North America (Green Mountain College, Vermont)
distribution list by state/province/territory (Bill Mauffray, Florida)
Odonata of North America, Updated September 2007
Works Cited
1.Damselflies of the Northeast
Ed Lam. 2004. Biodiversity Books.
2.Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States
John C. Abbott. 2005. Princeton University Press.
3.Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies
Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. Little, Brown and Company.