Scalloped spreadwing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scalloped spreadwing |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Lestidae |
| Genus: | Lestes |
| Species: |
L. praemorsus
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| Binomial name | |
| Lestes praemorsus Hagen in Selys, 1862
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| Synonyms | |
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Lestes praemorsus is a type of damselfly, which is a small insect similar to a dragonfly. It belongs to the family called Lestidae. People often call it the scalloped spreadwing or sapphire-eyed spreadwing. You can find this damselfly in many places, from India all the way to China and south to New Guinea.
About the Scalloped Spreadwing
This damselfly is a medium-sized insect. Male Lestes praemorsus damselflies have a body (abdomen) that is about 32 to 35 millimeters long. This is a bit shorter than a similar damselfly called Lestes dorothea, which has an abdomen of 36 to 40 millimeters.
What They Look Like
The head of this damselfly is black. Adult males have beautiful deep sapphire-blue eyes, just like L. dorothea.
Their main body part (thorax) is black. The sides of the thorax are covered in a white, powdery coating, and it's yellowish underneath. On the top of the thorax, there are two shiny metallic green stripes. These stripes look similar to those on L. dorothea. There are also some uneven spots on both sides of the thorax. In older males, the white powdery coating becomes very thick, which can hide these markings.
The abdomen (tail part) of the damselfly is blue with black markings on top. Segments 2 to 7 of the abdomen have very thin bluish rings at their base. Segment 8 has a small blue spot on its side near the end. Segment 9 has a large blue spot on each side. In adult damselflies, these spots might also get covered in the white powdery coating, making them look like a ring. Segment 10 also has a blue spot on each side, which can form a ring in adults. The parts at the very end of the abdomen (anal appendages) are light yellow with black tips.
Female Lestes praemorsus damselflies look similar to the males, but they are usually pale yellowish-green in color.
Where They Live
These damselflies like to lay their eggs and grow in places with lots of plants. You can find them in ponds, marshes, and lakes that have plenty of vegetation. They are quite common in shady lowland swamps and drains.
See also
- List of odonates of India
- List of odonata of Kerala
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
