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Lestes disjunctus
Common Spreadwing; Northern Spreadwing; Northern Spreadwing
Family: Lestidae
Species account author: Robert Cannings.
Extracted from Introducing the Dragonflies of British Columbia and the Yukon (2002)

Photograph

© Ian Lane     (Photo ID #1539)

Map

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Distribution of Lestes disjunctus in British Columbia.
(Click on the map to view a larger version.)
Source: (for the static map) RBCM and BCCDC 2004 ©

Species Information


Description

The mature male's thorax has blue stripes on top, but turns pruinose grey with age; eyes are dark above and pale blue below. On both sexes, the back of the head is black; this is especially useful in separating female Common and Lyre-tipped spreadwings. The end of the female's ovipositor does not reach the tip of the abdomen. Length: ♂ 37 mm, ♀ 35 mm.


Flight Period

B.C., mid June to October; Yukon, late June to mid September.

Genus Description


Large damselflies, brown, black, metallic-green or bronze above, mostly pale below. As they age, parts of the body, including the tip of the abdomen in males, often become pruinose bluish white. Females lay eggs in tandem with males, usually in plants above the surface of the water. The larvae are long and slender with banded gills and an unusually elongated labium. Some species are adapted to temporary ponds; the eggs overwinter and the larvae grow rapidly after the basin fills with water in the winter or spring.

Biology

Family Description

A small but widely distributed family in B.C., containing only one genus here, Lestes, with five species. The common name comes from the characteristic posture of the adults - they usually perch with wings half-spread.
Field Notes

Common around most types of standing water with abundant aquatic vegetation. In most places, Common Spreadwing adults emerge after the first Emerald Spreadwings but before most Spotted Spreadwings.

Distribution


Widespread. The most common spreadwing in our region, north to the Arctic treeline.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)
COSEWIC
NativeS5YellowNot Listed



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.