Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Damselflies (Zygoptera) » Spreadwings (Lestidae) » Lestes

Genus Lestes

damselfly? - Lestes unguiculatus Spreadwing - Lestes dryas - male Elegant Spreadwing - Lestes inaequalis - female Northern Spreadwing - Lestes disjunctus - male Lestes Any idea what species of spreading this is? - Lestes congener Lestes vigilax? - Lestes vigilax - male Emerald Spreadwing Damselfly - Lestes dryas - female
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
Other Common Names
USE: The Odonata of North America for Common Names
USE: The Odonata of North America for Scientific Names
Numbers
Odonata of North America lists 17 species in the genus.
Nearctica.com lists 15 species for this genus.
Identification
Identification can be difficult as to species.
Remarks
Lestes is Greek, meaning "plunderer", no doubt referring to the predatory habits. (1)
Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek page has links to images(of genitalia) for several different members of this genus.
Giff Beaton's page shows several members of this genus.
Works Cited
1.A Dictionary of Entomology
George Gordh, David H. Headrick. 2003. CABI Publishing.
Contributed by Cotinis on 23 March, 2004 - 4:36pm
Additional contributions by Tony-2
Last updated 25 February, 2006 - 3:42pm

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