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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Damselflies (Zygoptera) » Spreadwings (Lestidae) » Lestes » Slender Spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis)

Species Lestes rectangularis - Slender Spreadwing

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Spreadwing Damselfly - Lestes rectangularis Slender Spreadwing in New Brunswick - Lestes rectangularis - male Slender spreadwing - Lestes rectangularis - male Lestes rectangularis Lestes rectangularis Lestes sp. - Lestes rectangularis Lestes rectangularis - male Slender Spreadwing - Lestes rectangularis - 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 rectangularis (Slender Spreadwing)
Explanation of Names
Author of species is Say, 1839.
Size
37-53mm long
Identification
Wide gray shoulder stripe on female, abdomen dark with tan along sides. (1) Male has very long dark abdomen, about twice as long as wings, usually lacks pruinosity at tip.
Range
Eastern half of US
Habitat
Ponds, lakes, marshes and quiet streams. Often encountered away from water.
Season
Early May to early November (New Jersey).
Life Cycle
Females lay eggs in emergent vegetation, alone or in tandem with male.
Print References
Lam, p. 31 (1)
Dunkle, pp. 40-41, photos, figs.23-24 (2)
Abbott, pp. 41-43, photo 3f (3)
Nikula, p. 51 (4)
Internet References
Cirrus Digital Imaging
NJ Odes
Odonata of North America, Updated September 2007
Works Cited
1.Damselflies of the Northeast
Ed Lam. 2004. Biodiversity Books.
2.Damselflies of Florida, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
Sidney W. Dunkle. 1991. Scientific Publishers.
3.Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States
John C. Abbott. 2005. Princeton University Press.
4.Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies
Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. Little, Brown and Company.
Contributed by john and jane balaban on 1 September, 2004 - 9:09pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Ted Kropiewnicki
Last updated 21 February, 2008 - 10:41pm

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