''Lestes virens'' is a species of
damselfly in the family
Lestidae, the spreadwings. It is known commonly as the small spreadwing or small emerald spreadwing. It is native to much of Europe and western and central Asia.
[Kalkman, V. J. 2014]
''Lestes virens''.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 30 January 2016.
Distribution and habitat
There are two subspecies. The subspecies ''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 United Kingdom. It is a damselfly of still waters and is found in lakes, ponds, ditches and bogs with abundant vegetation.
Identification
''L. virens'' looks very similar to the other members of the genus ''
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 ...
''. 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
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 ...
edged laterally with white and its anal appendages are pale to yellowish. ''L. sponsa'' and ''
L. dryas'' both have black anal appendages.
In ''L. v. virens'' the yellow line which runs along the humeral suture is unbroken and almost reaches the base of the forewing, 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.
[Askew, R. R. (2004). ''The Dragonflies of Europe''. (revised ed.) Harley Books. pp 58–66. ]
Behaviour
The flight period is generally from June to September, but it may start as early as April in the south of its range. ''L. virens'' lives in the dense vegetation on the edge of ponds where it feeds, mates, and lays eggs. It 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
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 ...
. They overwinter as developed eggs and then the larvae emerge in spring. The larvae develop very quickly.
Gallery
File:LestesVirensVestulaMale.jpg, ''Lestes virens vestalis'' male
File:LestesVirensVestulaYoungFemale.JPG, Female
File:L virens pterostigmata.JPG, Wing showing pale brown pterostigma edged with white
See also
*
List of damselflies of the world (Lestidae)
References
Further reading
* 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.
* Gibbons, R. B. (1986). ''Dragonflies and Damselflies of Britain and Northern Europe''. Country Life Books. . pp 54–62.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1430591
V
Damselflies of Europe
Odonata of Africa
Insects described in 1825