Lestes barbarus
Encyclopedia
Lestes barbarus is a damselfly
of the family Lestidae
. It has the typical appearance of a Lestes
damselfly; it has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. Its common name
in English is the Migrant Spreadwing but in Great Britain it is often known as the Southern Emerald Damselfly.
, France
, Italy
and Greece
to India
and Mongolia
. It is less common in northern Europe, it breeds in the Netherlands
in coastal dunes and is increasing in number. It is at the edge of its range in the Channel Islands
, where it has been breeding since 1995. It is also found in north Africa; it gets its Latin name as the first specimen was found in Barbary, North Africa. It is a damselfly of still water and can be found in stagnant and slightly brackish water.
at Winterton Dunes
, Norfolk
on 30 July 2002 (Nobes 2003). There were 3 males. In 2003 & 2004, the species was again seen here and at Sandwich Bay
, Kent
(Forrest 2005). Although mainly a Mediterranean species, it has also been recorded in the Channel Islands
.
in having two-coloured pterostigmata which is diagnostic. The male abdominal appendage and female ovipositor are also characteristic and unlike those of L. sponsa
or L. dryas
. Like other Lestes
both sexes are mainly metallic green and the wings are usually held well out from the body.
Immatures have pale pterostigmata and only develop the characteristic two-coloured pterostigmata when mature.
but it is more likely to be found away from water. After mating the pair usually remain in tandem while the female lays eggs into waterside plants. L. barbarus overwinter as diapausing eggs and hatch into larvae in spring. The larvae develop very quickly, within 2 months and the adults emerge in late spring.
Damselfly
Damselflies are insects in the order Odonata. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but the adults can be distinguished by the fact that the wings of most damselflies are held along, and parallel to, the body when at rest...
of the family Lestidae
Lestidae
Lestidae is a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender damselflies. They are of the order of the dragonflies and are commonly known as "Spreadwings." There are two subfamilies in Lestdae. The first subfamily is Lestinae. Damselflies in Lestinae rest with their wings partly open...
. It has the typical appearance of a Lestes
Lestes
Lestes is a genus of damselfly in family Lestidae. The family hold their wings at about 45 degrees to the body when resting. This distinguishes them from most other species of damselflies which hold the wings along, and parallel to, the body when at rest....
damselfly; it has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. Its common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
in English is the Migrant Spreadwing but in Great Britain it is often known as the Southern Emerald Damselfly.
Distribution and habitat
L. barbarus is found across southern Europe in a band across SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. It is less common in northern Europe, it breeds in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in coastal dunes and is increasing in number. It is at the edge of its range in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, where it has been breeding since 1995. It is also found in north Africa; it gets its Latin name as the first specimen was found in Barbary, North Africa. It is a damselfly of still water and can be found in stagnant and slightly brackish water.
Status in Britain
This species was first recorded in BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
at Winterton Dunes
Winterton Dunes
Winterton Dunes is an extensive dune system on the east coast of Norfolk, England, which has been designated as a National Nature Reserve and is within the Norfolk Coast AONB....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
on 30 July 2002 (Nobes 2003). There were 3 males. In 2003 & 2004, the species was again seen here and at Sandwich Bay
Sandwich Bay
Sandwich Bay is a long sweeping inlet of the sea between Ramsgate and Deal, on the east coast of Kent, England. The coastal area consists of sand flats with their associated salt marshes and coastal sand dunes. The Sandwich Flats stretch for about five miles along the coast...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
(Forrest 2005). Although mainly a Mediterranean species, it has also been recorded in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
.
Identification
This damselfly differs from the other European LestesLestes
Lestes is a genus of damselfly in family Lestidae. The family hold their wings at about 45 degrees to the body when resting. This distinguishes them from most other species of damselflies which hold the wings along, and parallel to, the body when at rest....
in having two-coloured pterostigmata which is diagnostic. The male abdominal appendage and female ovipositor are also characteristic and unlike those of L. sponsa
Lestes sponsa
Lestes sponsa, is a damselfly, with a wide Palaeartic distribution. It is known commonly as the Emerald Damselfly or Common Spreadwing. Both males and females have a metallic green colour and when resting its wings are usually half opened....
or L. dryas
Lestes dryas
Lestes dryas is a species of damselfly which is found across Europe, Asia and North America. In North America it is known as the Emerald Spreadwing and this name is becoming more widely used in Europe. In Britain, it is very rare so its common name is the Scarce Emerald Damselfly. An alternate name...
. Like other Lestes
Lestes
Lestes is a genus of damselfly in family Lestidae. The family hold their wings at about 45 degrees to the body when resting. This distinguishes them from most other species of damselflies which hold the wings along, and parallel to, the body when at rest....
both sexes are mainly metallic green and the wings are usually held well out from the body.
Immatures have pale pterostigmata and only develop the characteristic two-coloured pterostigmata when mature.
Behaviour
Flight period is from March to October in the south of its range but in north its main flight period is June to August. L. barbarus is very similar in its behaviour to L. sponsaLestes sponsa
Lestes sponsa, is a damselfly, with a wide Palaeartic distribution. It is known commonly as the Emerald Damselfly or Common Spreadwing. Both males and females have a metallic green colour and when resting its wings are usually half opened....
but it is more likely to be found away from water. After mating the pair usually remain in tandem while the female lays eggs into waterside plants. L. barbarus overwinter as diapausing eggs and hatch into larvae in spring. The larvae develop very quickly, within 2 months and the adults emerge in late spring.
External links
- British dragonfly Society http://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/southern-emerald-damselfly
- Photos Lestes barbarus site Dragonflies of Southern Urals http://www.odonata.su/index.php?name=db&op=viewtaxon&type=4&id=144
See also
- List of damselflies of the world (Lestidae)
- Lestes dryasLestes dryasLestes dryas is a species of damselfly which is found across Europe, Asia and North America. In North America it is known as the Emerald Spreadwing and this name is becoming more widely used in Europe. In Britain, it is very rare so its common name is the Scarce Emerald Damselfly. An alternate name...
- Lestes sponsaLestes sponsaLestes sponsa, is a damselfly, with a wide Palaeartic distribution. It is known commonly as the Emerald Damselfly or Common Spreadwing. Both males and females have a metallic green colour and when resting its wings are usually half opened....
- Lestes virensLestes virensThe Small Emerald Damselfly or Small Spreadwing, Lestes virens is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It has the typical appearance of a Lestes damselfly; it has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body....
- Lestes macrostigmaLestes macrostigmaLestes macrostigma is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. Its common name is the Dark Emerald Damselfly or Dark Spreadwing and it has the typical appearance of a Lestes damselfly; it has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. It is usually found in brackish...
- Lestes viridisLestes viridisChalcolestes viridis, formerly Lestes viridis, is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body...
- Lestes parvidensLestes parvidensChalcolestes parvidens, formerly Lestes parvidens, is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. Its common name in English is the Eastern Willow Spreadwing.-Taxonomy:...