The Slender Spreadwing is approximately 1.5 to 2.25 inches or 37 to 55 mm long. This species has an unusually long, slender abdomen. The male is longer than the female. He has pale blue antehumeral stripes and is plain yellow on the side and undersides. The abdomen is typically not pruinose. Abdominal segments 3-7 are tan colored dorsally and pale yellow laterally. Segments 8-10 are black dorsally and pale yellow or blue laterally. Segments 9 and 10 darken with age. The femur has a black line on the outside. The tibia is nearly all yellow. The female is similar to the male except that her abdomen is shorter. She is very similar in size and appearance to the Lyre-tipped female, but the Lyre-tipped has pale-tipped stigmas on the wings. The Slender Spreadwing has all dark stigmas.
This damselfly is uncommon in Fontenelle Forest. It is more likely to be seen in Fall. The individual shown here was photographed at the stream in Child’s Hollow in Fontenelle Forest in late September. They are usually found in shade, and rest in vegetation near or over water.
The Slender Spreadwing is usually found in forests around lakes and ponds with abundant vegetation. The female usually oviposits alone in cattails about a foot above water.
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