Species account

Almindelig Kobbervandnymfe (Lestes sponsa)    (Hansemann, 1823)
   Kobbervandnymfer (Lestidae) [Guldsmede]    COSP    24775
Common Spreadwing (gb)   Lestes Norteño (es)   Pudrad Smaragdflickslända (se)  
Synonyms (scientific):
Lestes autumnalis Stephens, 1835
Lestes nympha Stephens, 1835 (nec Hansemann, 1823)
Agrion picteti Fonscolombe, 1838
Agrion spectrum Kolenati, 1856
Lestes smaragdula Buchecker, 1876
Indolestes neglectus Fröhlich, 1903
Lestes nymphaeides Bartenev, 1914
Measurements:
To 35-39mm Ab 25-33mm Hw 17-24mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
Females, exclusively in tandem?, insert eggs into plant material normally above water level (dried out or wet) but sometimes the pair submerges and eggs overwinter under water. Eggs overwinter and larvae develop to imago in few months (same season).
Distribution:
Most of Europe eastward to Japan. More common in the north of the region. In Denmark widespread, including all regions and many smaller islands as well.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status
Common in most of Denmark and other Nordic countries. Declining in rest of Europe. Amager
Comment:
Flies a few weeks later than dryas, and often the two are found together.
Common Spreadwing 427    (2 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Granathøj.
Lifer. Much blue powder on S2 indicates this species over Robust Spreadwing (Sortmærket Kobbervandnymfe).




Common Spreadwing 1189    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 1190    (2 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 1192    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 867    (1 photos)
2022-07-03    Ulvshale (Møn), Denmark

Imago Han
Straight lower appendages and all bluish S2.



Common Spreadwing 955    (2 photos)
2022-07-12    Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden

Imago Han
Straight lower appendages and powder on entire S2.



Common Spreadwing 1022    (1 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 1073    (2 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Han
Superficially the appendages seem to be inward-pointed, but they lack the spatula shape at the end, plus, the all blue pruinose on S2 only matches this species.



Common Spreadwing 1116    (1 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Han
I was looking for Small Spreadwing, but only managed to find Common ones.



Common Spreadwing 1118    (1 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Han
A scoliotic male. Probably not affecting it much.

Aberrant

Common Spreadwing 1119    (1 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 1608    (1 photos)
2023-06-20    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Enghøj. Young.
The first this year of the species, for me.




Common Spreadwing 2308    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 2309    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 2313    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 2315    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han




Common Spreadwing 2977    (1 photos)
2024-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Han
Bro-søen.



Common Spreadwing 1191    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun




Common Spreadwing 1188    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun




Common Spreadwing 1187    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun




Common Spreadwing 954    (1 photos)
2022-07-12    Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden

Imago Hun
Young.
Choosing this species because I had adult looking animals here, but I'm not 100% sure of the species, wondering if it could be a Robust Spreadwing instead. This because the ovipositor looks rather long and dark underside to the abdomen possibly matches Robust better. Will have to look into this...




Common Spreadwing 1078    (1 photos)
2022-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Enghøj sø.
Narrow golden shoulder lines.




Common Spreadwing 1117    (2 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Hun
I was hoping this one would be the Small Spreadwing, but the powder-look gave it away though, only a little blue on S2-3.



Common Spreadwing 1737    (1 photos)
2023-07-08    Rold Skov (midtjylland), Denmark

Imago Hun
Bogs near Skørping.

Emerging.


Exuvia

Common Spreadwing 2041    (1 photos)
2023-07-27    Skær Sø (Egtved), Denmark

Imago Hun




Common Spreadwing 2208    (1 photos)
2023-08-17    Krebseklo-vandhullet/kirkegård (Hørsholm), Denmark

Imago Hun
Relatively often that I witness feces dropping from a dragonfly.



Common Spreadwing 2281    (1 photos)
2023-08-27    Grib Skov (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Hun
Sandskredsøen.



Common Spreadwing 2306    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Hun
In an area where virens [Lille Kobbervandnymfe] also exists the best way to identify this female is by the lack of yellow at the back of the head.



Common Spreadwing 2310    (2 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Hun
Another difficult animal where virens [Lille Kobbervandnymfe] is also present. But it is kind of possible to perceive that it is not yellow at the back of the head and the cobbery part of the thorax does not reach the metapleural suture (line further below in the greenish part of the thorax).



Common Spreadwing 2785    (5 photos)
2024-06-10    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Vibe-vandhullet. Young.
I think, an unusual spot to have the first animal of the year of this species. Almost in the forest, though at a drying out pool which might be attracting to it. The only animal present. 10 days earlier than last year.




Common Spreadwing 2978    (1 photos)
2024-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Hun
Bro-søen.



Common Spreadwing 2979    (2 photos)
2024-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Hun
Engsø.



Common Spreadwing 3027    (1 photos)
2024-08-19    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Dryas-renden. 4 females here today.
As always the identification is tricky with old individuals, but the strong golden shoulder stripe looks too heavy for a dryas, and this said even though the coppery marks on S1 look very full, and the abdomen too, voluminous, thus fitting dryas better. But those are subtle markers and I prefer to rely more on the shoulder stripe when it comes to old individuals of these two look-alikes.




Common Spreadwing 3028    (1 photos)
2024-08-19    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Dryas-renden. 4 females here today.
See 3027 for comment.




Common Spreadwing 1994    (1 photos)
2023-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
Granathøj. Mating.



Common Spreadwing 2179    (1 photos)
2023-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
Svenskeholmvej.
Present golden shoulder stripe. Flying with dryas [Sortmærket Kobbervandnymfe].




Common Spreadwing 2307    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
In an awkward position not doing much good for anybody...



Common Spreadwing 2311    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
Egg-laying on Water-Horsetail [Dynd-Padderok].



Common Spreadwing 2312    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
Egg-laying.



Common Spreadwing 2314    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
Mating.



Common Spreadwing 2316    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Iglemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
Egg-laying on Water-Horsetail [Dynd-Padderok].