Small Spreadwing
(Lestes virens) Charpentier (1825) Spreadwings (Lestidae) SMSP 24777
Lille Kobbervandnymfe (dk)Lestes Menor (es)Mindre Smaragdflickslända (se) Synonyms: Small Emerald Damselfly (gb)
Subspecies
virens
W Mediterranean, S France and Thyrrhenean islands. Form paler on the thorax, with longer antehumeral stripe, bronze on thorax restricted; individuals from W Iberian pen. show bicolored wing marks, like barbarus.
vestalis
N and E Europe. As described in text. Becoming paler toward the SE.
nimidicus
Samraoui, Weekers & Dumont (2003) - Autumn generation from Algeria. Described as more coppery with age than the other forms. Species status claimed, but not clarified yet.
Measurements:
To 30-39mm Ab 25-32mm Hw 19-23mm
Flight period:
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
SE
EU n
EU s
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
Females, in tandem or solo, insert eggs into plant material above water level (dried out or wet). Eggs overwinter and larvae develop to imago in few months (same season).
Distribution:
Most of Europe and Morocco and Algeria; absent British isles and most of Scandinavian peninsula except for Southern Sweden. Also eastward through C Asia including Kazakhstan. In Denmark only present at one locality in Jylland near the German border and on Bornholm. Accidental elsewhere without known reproduction.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Status:
LC(global) LC(eu) LC(dk). Very local in Denmark, but both populations are stable.
My experience with the species is limited, but of the two females I have seen (see photos of 2023), the ovipositor has been much darker than what is normally described for the species and confirmed by many online photos.
Imago ♂ and ♀
The only thing that seems off compared to what the literature says, is that the ovipositor is rather dark where it normal is pale. Knowing that sponsa [Almindelig Kobbervandnymfe] is present as well at this bog it would be tempting to then conclude that it probably is a such. But except for this all the features for virens are present, and I prefer to conclude that some virens do not show a pale ovipositor, why that character can only be used as supporting evidence.
Imago ♀
Another example of a female where the ovipositor is not as pale as is normally stated. Normally the black is restricted to the underside of it, but both females I saw this day had clearly blackish color on the side as well.