The Southern Spreadwing is 1.50 to 1.75 inches long (36-46 mm). The male’s thorax is black with blue-green stripes. The abdomen is black with blue markings on the sides. Segment 8 is blue only on the sides. Segment 9 is all blue and segment 10 becomes light blue in older individuals. The wings are clear with black stigmas. The male’s eyes are blue. The female has brown eyes. Her thorax is tan with brown stripes and the abdomen is also brown. The male is very similar to the Sweetflag Spreadwing (L. forcipatus) but can be separated by the color of abdominal segment 8 which is entirely blue in the Sweetflag Spreadwing. The female can be distinguished from the Sweetflag female by her much smaller ovipositor. The Northern Spreadwing (L. disjunctus) can be separated from Southern by examining the male appendages. The Northern Spreadwing is only found in Nebraska in the northern tier of counties.
The frequency of occurrence at Fontenelle Forest is not known. A male was seen and photographed at the pond at Camp Brewster in mid-June 2014. This spreadwing is found at ponds and lakes with aquatic vegetation.
Males may spend all day at the water’s edge perched on grasses and other vegetation. Females come to the water in the afternoon. Oviposition is on reed stems above the water.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.