''Lestes barbarus'' is a species of

damselfly Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along ...

of the family

Lestidae The Lestidae are a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender damselflies, known commonly as the spreadwings or spread-winged damselflies. Characteristics While most damselflies rest with their wings folded together, most member ...

, the spreadwings. Its

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s in English include southern emerald damselfly, shy emerald damselfly, and migrant spreadwing.Clausnitzer, V. 2009
''Lestes barbarus''.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 January 2016.

Distribution and habitat

''Lestes barbarus'' is a southern European species with a rapidly expanding range. It is found across southern Europe in a band across

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

and

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

and

Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...

. It is less common in northern Europe. It breeds in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

in coastal dunes and is increasing in number. It is at the edge of its range in the

Channel Islands The Channel Islands ( nrf, Îles d'la Manche; french: îles Anglo-Normandes or ''îles de la Manche'') are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey, ...

, where it has been breeding since 1995. It is also found in

North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...

; 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. This species was first recorded in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

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 of 109 ha. Winterton Dunes is within the Norfolk Coast AONB. The site is unusual in that it shows greater ...

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

, on 30 July 2002.Nobes, G. (2003). Southern Emerald Damselfly ''Lestes barbarus'' (Fabr.) – The First British Record. ''

Atropos Atropos (; grc, Ἄτροπος "without turn") or Aisa, in Greek mythology, was one of the three Moirai, goddesses of fate and destiny. Her Roman equivalent was Morta. Atropos was the oldest of the Three Fates, and was known as "the Inflex ...

'' No. 18, pp. 3–6. In 2003 and 2004 it was noted at

Sandwich Bay, Kent 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 f ...

.Forrest, P. J. (2005). Southern Emerald Damselfly ''Lestes barbarus'' (Fabr.) at Sandwich Bay, Kent. ''Atropos'' No. 24, pp. 24–25. In 2018 it was proven to have bred in Britain for the first time.

Identification

This species has the typical appearance of a ''Lestes'' damselfly with a metallic green body and wings held away from the body at rest. It differs from the other European ''Lestes'' in having bicoloured

pterostigma The pterostigma (plural: pterostigmata) is a group of specialized cells in the outer insect wing, wings of insects, which are often thickened or coloured, and thus stand out from other cells. It is particularly noticeable in dragonfly, dragonfli ...

ta, which is diagnostic. The male abdominal appendage and female ovipositor are also characteristic and unlike those of '' L. sponsa'' or '' L. dryas''. Immatures have pale pterostigmata and only develop the characteristic two-coloured pterostigmata when mature.

Behaviour

The flight period is from March to October in the south of its range but in north it flies mainly from June to August. Its behaviour is similar to that of ''L. sponsa'', but it is more likely to be found away from water. After mating the pair usually remain in tandem while the female lays eggs on waterside plants. The eggs overwinter in

diapause In animal dormancy, diapause is the delay in development in response to regular and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions.Tauber, M.J., Tauber, C.A., Masaki, S. (1986) ''Seasonal Adaptations of Insects''. Oxford University Press It ...

and the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e hatch in spring. The larvae develop within two months, the adults emerging in late spring.

Notes

References

* Askew, R. R. ''The Dragonflies of Europe'' (Revised). Harley Books. 2004. pp 58–66. * d'Aguilar, J., Dommanget, J. L., and Prechac, R. ''A Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain, Europe and North Africa''. Collins. 1986. pp 168–178. * Gibbons, R. B. ''Dragonflies and Damselflies of Britain and Northern Europe''. Country Life Books. 1986. pp 54–62.

External links