Migrant Spreadwing

Lestes barbarus · Order: Odonata · Family: Lestidae

Also called: Shy Emerald Damselfly, Southern Emerald Damselfly

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.

Migrant Spreadwing — Photo: Jerry Lanfear, CC BY

It can be told apart from other European Lestes by its two-coloured wing spots and distinctive male and female tail parts. It lives around still or slightly salty water, breeds in coastal dunes of the Netherlands, and its flight season runs from March to October in the south and June to August in the north.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

Has bicoloured pterostigmata, which is a key identifying feature. Male tail appendage and female ovipositor are unique compared with L. sponsa and L. dryas.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

Found near still water, including stagnant and slightly brackish sites. Breeds in coastal dune habitats in the Netherlands and is increasing there.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Larvae develop in about two months and emerge as adults in late spring. After mating, the pair stays in tandem while the female deposits eggs on plants near water.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Eggs overwinter in diapause and hatch in spring. Larvae grow for roughly two months before becoming adults in late spring.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

Flies from March to October in southern parts of its range; in northern areas it is mainly seen June to August. Has been breeding on the Channel Islands since 1995, at the northern edge of its range.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Native to a band across southern Europe from Spain to Greece and extending east to India and Mongolia, with isolated groups in North Africa.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

The bicoloured pterostigmata set it apart from other European Lestes species. Male abdominal appendage and female ovipositor differ from those of L. sponsa and L. dryas.

Source: Wikipedia