''Lestes macrostigma'' 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. It is known by the common name dark spreadwing. It is native to much of southern Europe, its distribution extending into western Asia.
[Kalkman, V. J. 2014]
''Lestes macrostigma''.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 January 2016.
Description
This species is up to 48 millimeters long. It is similar to other common ''
Lestes
''Lestes'' is a genus of damselfly in the 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 ...
'' species but it is darker in color with more blue
pruinescence Pruinescence , or pruinosity, is a "frosted" or dusty-looking coating on top of a surface. It may also be called a pruina (plural: ''pruinae''), from the Latin word for hoarfrost. The adjectival form is pruinose .
Entomology
In insects, a "blo ...
. The
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 are large and black.
[Lambret, P., Cohez, D., & Janczak, A. 2009]
''Lestes macrostigma'' (Eversmann, 1836) en Camargue et en Crau (Département des Bouches-du-Rhône) (Odonata, Zygoptera, Lestidae).
''Martinia'' 25(2): 51-65. + Erratum, ''Martinia'' 25(3): 115.
Distribution
This species has a wide distribution extending from the western coastlines of Europe into Central Asia and the Middle East. Much of its European range is in the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
. Its distribution is fragmented. It is more abundant in the eastern parts of its range, but abundance varies according to climate and weather. In some areas it is common and in others it is rare and sometimes endangered.
[
It is most common around ]brackish water
Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estua ...
s, like coastal estuaries and salty inland lakes.
Biology
This species has often been noted to lay its eggs on saltmarsh bulrush (''Bolboschoenus maritimus''). It will also utilize sea bulrush (''Juncus maritimus'') and common clubrush (''Schoenoplectus lacustris'').[
After mating, the female usually seeks oviposition sites with the male still attached to her. She then lays a line of eggs in the fibers of the aquatic plant. The ovipositor has a cutting implement and sensory ]seta
In biology, setae (singular seta ; from the Latin word for "bristle") are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.
Animal setae
Protostomes
Annelid setae are stiff bristles present on the body. Th ...
e.[Matushkina, N. A. & P. H. Lambret. 2011]
Ovipositor morphology and egg laying behaviour in the dragonfly ''Lestes macrostigma'' (Zygoptera: Lestidae).
''International Journal of Odonatology'' 14(1) 69-82.
See also
* List of damselflies of the world (Lestidae)
*''Archilestes californicus''
*'' Archilestes exoletus''
*''Archilestes grandis''
*'' Archilestes guayaraca''
*'' Archilestes latialatus''
*'' Archilestes neblina''
*'' Archilestes regalis''
*''Archilestes tuberalatus''
*'' Austrolestes aleison''
* ...
References
Further reading
* Askew, R. R. (2004). ''The Dragonflies of Europe''. (revised ed.) Harley Books. pp 58–66.
* d'Aguilar, J., Dommanget, J. L., and Prechac, R. (1986). ''A Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain, Europe and North Africa''. Collins. pp 168–178.
* Boudot J. P., et al. (2009). Atlas of the Odonata of the Mediterranean and North Africa. ''Libellula Supplement'' 9:1-256.
* Dijkstra, K. & Lewington, R. (2006). ''Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe''. British Wildlife Publishing. .
{{Taxonbar, from=Q490044
M
Damselflies of Europe
Odonata of Asia
Insects of the Middle East
Insects of Central Asia
Least concern biota of Asia
Insects described in 1836