Lestes virens
Encyclopedia
The 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.
. It has a metallic green body and at rest holds its wings away from its body. L. virens is smaller than L. sponsa
. It has a pale brown pterostigma edged laterally with white and its anal appendages are pale coloured/yellowish. L. sponsa
and L. dryas
both have black anal appendages.
There are two sub-species L. v. virens and L. v. vestalis. In L. v. virens the yellow line which runs along the humeral suture is unbroken and almost reaches the base of the forwing whereas in L. v. vestalis the yellow line is reduced and broken and does not reach the forewing. L. v. virens is found in the south of its range and L. v. vestalis is found in the north. The separation of L. virens into two subspecies has been called into question by Askew (2004)
. They overwinter as developed eggs and then the larvae hatch out in spring. The larvae develop very quickly.
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.
Distribution and habitat
L. virens is found in most of southern and central Europe and also North Africa. The sub-species L. v. virens is found in the south of the range in Spain, southern France, Sardinia and North Africa. L. v. vestalis is found in the north in northern France, Italy, and across central Europe. It is not found in northern Europe or in the UK. It is a damselfly of still waters and is found in lakes, ponds, ditches and bogs. It is found in well vegetated locations.Identification
L. virens looks very similar to the other members of the 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....
. It has a metallic green body and at rest holds its wings away from its body. L. virens is smaller than 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....
. It has a pale brown pterostigma edged laterally with white and its anal appendages are pale coloured/yellowish. 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....
and 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...
both have black anal appendages.
There are two sub-species L. v. virens and L. v. vestalis. In L. v. virens the yellow line which runs along the humeral suture is unbroken and almost reaches the base of the forwing whereas in L. v. vestalis the yellow line is reduced and broken and does not reach the forewing. L. v. virens is found in the south of its range and L. v. vestalis is found in the north. The separation of L. virens into two subspecies has been called into question by Askew (2004)
Behaviour
Flight period is from June to September but can be from April in the south of its range. L. virens like dense vegetation on the edge of ponds where they feed, mate and lay eggs. L. virens is a univoltine species. After mating the female lays its eggs above water on plant stems, the eggs go through a period of rapid development and then enter diapauseDiapause
Diapause is the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions. It is considered to be a physiological state of dormancy with very specific initiating and inhibiting conditions...
. They overwinter as developed eggs and then the larvae hatch out in spring. The larvae develop very quickly.