Small spreadwing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Small spreadwing
Scientific classification
Genus:	Lestes
Species:	virens

The Lestes virens is a type of damselfly from the Lestidae family, also known as "spreadwings." People often call it the small spreadwing or small emerald spreadwing. You can find this insect in many parts of Europe, as well as western and central Asia.

Where It Lives and What It Likes

There are two main types, or subspecies, of Lestes virens. One type, L. v. virens, lives in warmer southern areas like Spain, southern France, Sardinia, and North Africa. The other type, L. v. vestalis, is found further north in places like northern France, Italy, and across central Europe. You won't find this damselfly in northern Europe or the United Kingdom.

This damselfly loves calm water. It lives near still lakes, ponds, ditches, and marshy areas. It especially likes places with lots of plants growing in and around the water.

How to Spot a Small Spreadwing

Lestes virens looks a lot like other damselflies in the Lestes group. Its body is a shiny metallic green. When it rests, it holds its wings spread out, away from its body.

Here are some ways to tell it apart:

• It is smaller than another common damselfly called L. sponsa.
• Look at the small, dark spot on its wings called a pterostigma. For Lestes virens, this spot is pale brown and has white edges.
• Check its tail parts, called anal appendages. They are pale or yellowish. Other similar damselflies, like L. sponsa and L. dryas, have black tail parts.

The two subspecies, L. v. virens and L. v. vestalis, also have small differences in their markings. L. v. virens has a yellow line along its side that is unbroken and reaches almost to its front wing. L. v. vestalis has a shorter, broken yellow line that doesn't reach as far.

Small Spreadwing Life Cycle

You can usually see these damselflies flying from June to September. In warmer southern areas, they might appear as early as April.

Lestes virens spends its life among the thick plants at the edge of ponds. This is where they find food, mate, and lay their eggs. They have one generation each year.

After mating, the female damselfly lays her eggs on plant stems, just above the water. The eggs quickly start to develop. Then, they go into a special resting period for the winter. The larvae, or young damselflies, hatch from these developed eggs in the spring. They grow very quickly!

Gallery

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  Lestes virens vestalis male

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  Female

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  Wing showing pale brown pterostigma edged with white

See also

• List of damselflies of the world (Lestidae)