HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022! See moth submissions.

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

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

Slender Spreadwing - Lestes rectangularis - male

Slender Spreadwing who's not so spread? - Lestes rectangularis

?Slender Spreadwing? - Lestes rectangularis

Damselfly - Lestes rectangularis - female

Slender Spreadwing - Lestes rectangularis - female

unidentified Lestidae 3 - Lestes rectangularis - 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

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

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version