LYRE-TIPPED SPREADWING

LYRE-TIPPED SPREADWING

Lestes unguiculatus
SPREADWING FAMILY (Lestidae)

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This damselfly is approximately 1 1/2 inches or 37 mm in length. The male has bright blue eyes, separated from each other on top. The thorax is brown with some pruinose blue markings. The abdomen is a metallic brown or bronze color with segments 8, 9 and 10 a pruinose blue. There is a dark v-shape on the top of segment 8. The tips of the male claspers (at the end of abdomen) have a lyre-shaped form. The female has tan colored eyes, a bronze-colored thorax with green stripes. The top of the abdomen is also a bronze color. The rear of her head is usually pale. The wings of both sexes are clear with tan stigmas.

 

This is an uncommon damselfly found in late summer and early fall along the stream in Fontenelle Forest. When they’re hunting for food they could be found almost anywhere in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods.

 

The lyre-shaped appendage of the male is distinctive for this species. Also, the v-shaped form on the abdominal segment 8 of the male is not present on a similar species, the Common Spreadwing. The female Lyre-shaped is very similar to the female Common Spreadwing, but she usually has dark coloration on the rear of the head.

 

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