Lestes dryas Kirby, 1890
Emerald Spreadwing
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
Virginia State Rank: SNR
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The Emerald Spreadwing is noticeably small and stocky for a spreadwing. The thorax and abdomen are mostly metallic green. The size ranges from 32-40mm (1.3-1.6 inches).
Similar species: The Emerald Spreadwing is readily separated from other spreadwings (Lestes) by its stocky size and bright emerald green body.
North American Range: The Emerald Spreadwing is Holarctic and ranges widely across North America from Alaska to northern California and east across the northern United States and southern Canada into the northeast. There is only one unsubstantiated report of this species from Virginia (Roble, 1994).
VA Observations by Locality: No Known Recorded Observations
Flight season and broods: The exact flight season of the Emerald Spreadwing is not known for Virginia, but flight season in New Jersey ranges from 4 June through 23 July. It tends to occur early in the season due to its use of temporary ponds that may dry up in late summer.
Aquatic Habitat: The Emerald Spreadwing uses shallow ponds that may be temporary, and are densely vegetated.
Behavior and Ecology: Emerald Spreadwing females oviposit in live stems of grasses and sedges. Like other species in this genus, they perch with wings partially spread.
Population trend and potential threats: The Emerald Spreadwing is common in its primary range. The lone Virginia report of an Emerald Spreadwing is poorly documented and unconfirmed.
Management practices: Monitor and protect occupied habitat.
References: Lam, Ed. 2004. Damselflies of the Northeast. Biodiversity Books. Forest Hills, New York. 96 pp.
Paulson, Dennis. 2011. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. Princeton University Press. Princeton and Oxford. 538 pp.
Roble, Steven M. 1994. A preliminary checklist of the Damselflies of Virginia, with Notes on Distribution and Seasonality. Banisteria 4: 3 - 23.
Roble, Steven M. 2011. Damselflies of Virginia- Flight dates. Unpub.