Species account

Robust Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)    Kirby, 1890
   Spreadwings (Lestidae) [Dragonflies]    ROSP    24776
Sortmærket Kobbervandnymfe (dk)   Lestes Robusto (es)   Kraftig Smaragdflickslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Emerald Spreadwing (us) Scarce Emerald Damselfly (gb) Lestes Recio (es)
Synonyms (scientific):
Agrion forcipula Charpentier, 1825 (nomen oblitum)
Lestes nympha Selys, 1840 (nec Hansemann, 1823, nec Stephens, 1835)
Lestes forcipata Hagen, 1861 (nec Rambur, 1842)
Lestes hamata Selys, 1862 (nec Hagen, 1861)
Lestes uncatus Kirby, 1890
Lestes skaloni Belyshev & Gagina, 1959
Measurements:
To 35-40mm Ab 26-33mm Hw 19-28mm
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; absent large part of British Isles, north Ireland, northern Fennoscandinavia, E Spain, Corsica, Sardinia and Greece. Also present Morocco and through a broad front from Turkey, Ukraine and Russia eastward to Japan and N America, where mainly present northern Lower 48 and southern Canada across the continent. In Denmark present in all regions, but less so on Fyn, Lolland and Falster.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Host plants:
Vejbred-Skedeblad (Alisma plantago)
Almindelig Sumpstrå (Eleocharis palustris)
Siv (Juncus)
Star (Carex)
Strandkogleaks (Scirpus maritimus)
Endemic:
Status
Common in Denmark and Sweden but declining in the south. Amager
Comment:
This species flies together with sponsa, but emerging a few weeks earlier. More common in the Southern part of the region. In Europe there are few October observations but normally the species flies to the first half of the September.

Apparently the American females in general show a well-developed golden shoulder stripe, just like we see it in Denmark/Europe on sponsa, but not on dryas. Here it is more common for it to be completely absent or showing a fraction only distally on the thorax. The same goes for the American male; it doesn't seem to show the same extension of pruinosity on S1-2 as the Danish/European animals. Leading to the fair question from a still novice, if they are really the same species?

Robust Spreadwing 561    (2 photos)
2021-08-01    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
The other of the two common spreadwings to be found on Amager, though rather localized.



Robust Spreadwing 772    (1 photos)
2022-06-18    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Male
With very little pruidescence on S1 and S2.
Actually seen at the water hole in the open field toward the parking lot.



Robust Spreadwing 774    (1 photos)
2022-06-18    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Male
Water hole in open field toward parking lot.



Robust Spreadwing 775    (2 photos)
2022-06-18    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Male
Not sure if it is the same as 772, but I don't think so.



Robust Spreadwing 1864    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male




Robust Spreadwing 1863    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male




Robust Spreadwing 1018    (1 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Male




Robust Spreadwing 1019    (1 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Male




Robust Spreadwing 1031    (1 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Male




Robust Spreadwing 1033    (2 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Male
Two different males.
Weaker angle lower appendages, but still inward.



Robust Spreadwing 1602    (1 photos)
2023-06-20    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Granathøj.



Robust Spreadwing 2176    (1 photos)
2023-08-12    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male




Robust Spreadwing 2703    (5 photos)
2024-05-21    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Strandengen-midt.
Young. An early individual taking advantage of the sunny weather that we've had for a good while. My first impulse when I got my camera on the animal was that it looked very much like a Chalcolestes viridis [Grøn Kobbervandnymfe] because of the pale wing mark and the overall green abdomen and thorax. But that species is not to be expected in this part of Denmark yet [will come within the next 10 years very likely] and it is also too early for it to fly, no matter what. The weak and very pale translucent lower appendages also confused me at first, but zooming in, it was beyond doubt that their spatulate shape could only belong to a young dryas.



Robust Spreadwing 2727    (5 photos)
2024-05-30    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Dryas-renden, Svenskeholmvej.
I'm probably the guilty one, disturbing it while it was waiting for the wings to harden. Then it panicked and fell into the water, where I picked it up, with a questionable result as the consequence. I put it on a branch, but the wings don't look good for further advancement into a Healthy Robust Life.

Android photos.

Hands on
Robust Spreadwing 2762    (1 photos)
2024-06-07    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Dryas-renden.
Many dryas were flying here today and still no sponsa [Almindelig Kobbervandnymfe]. But when I saw these lower appendages at first I took if it for a sponsa, since they look rather straight toward the tip. But I've had a similar animal earlier that was more advanced and showed the clear pruinosity pattern of dryas, why I have to believe that this one too is a dryas.



Robust Spreadwing 3021    (1 photos)
2024-08-03    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Male
Barbarus-renden.



Robust Spreadwing 3024    (1 photos)
2024-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Male
Barbarus-renden.



Robust Spreadwing 3018    (1 photos)
2024-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Male
Barbarus-renden.
Consuming one of the many crane flies that abound in these days. Most animals flying up from the ditch when walking through, are indeed one of these insects.

Notice how the distal part of S2 doesn't look all that clean coppery as normally is required for the species. In fact it looks almost like it does on old sponsa males. But the shoulder free thorax and the robustness of the animal, and the fact that the distal part of S2, despite all, still looks more coppery clean than is normally seen on sponsa, point toward dryas. So.



Robust Spreadwing 776    (1 photos)
2022-06-18    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Female




Robust Spreadwing 773    (1 photos)
2022-06-18    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Female
Classic.
Water hole in open field toward parking lot.



Robust Spreadwing 771    (1 photos)
2022-06-18    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Female
You might argue that the ovipositor should be visible beyond the appendages, but I think the abdomen is angled downward hiding it. The lack of should stripes is also good for Robust.



Robust Spreadwing 1697    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Horreby Lyng (Falster), Denmark

Imago Female
The hint of a golden shoulder line might suggest a sponsa (Almindelig Kobbervandnymfe), but the rectangular marking on S1 and the robust! look and the apparently long ovipositor are better for dryas.



Robust Spreadwing 2175    (3 photos)
2023-08-12    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
A new batch emerging now.



Robust Spreadwing 2194    (2 photos)
2023-08-12    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
Without knowing it exactly I would guess that spider webs are among the most dangerous constructions the smaller dragonflies have to be aware of. Here the spider was sitting eagerly at its corner post waiting for its prey to calm down. But I'm biased, have chosen my side, and felt no remorse while interfering with the course of nature, grabbing the damselfly gently and pulling it away from a certain death.

Hands on
Robust Spreadwing 2178    (3 photos)
2023-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
Svenskeholmvej.
Pooha action. Not the first time I witness that the excrement continues to dangle in a thread after release.



Robust Spreadwing 2949    (2 photos)
2024-08-01    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen.
Stronger build than sponsa, this is what mostly makes me call this a dryas. The objective field characters: length of ovipositor and the shape of the pattern on S1 are difficult to judge from this angle. Notice that old individuals are more likely to show the golden shoulder stripe, which is normally only seen on sponsa females.

There have been a few dryas in this waterhole together with a good number of barbarus [Sydlig Kobbervandnymfe], but I haven't noticed any interaction the two between. With few or no female barbarus present, I would have expected it to be tempting for a male to instinctively try his luck with a female dryas.



Robust Spreadwing 3022    (1 photos)
2024-08-03    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Female
Barbarus-renden.
A funny bluish color cast to the underside of the thorax and the base of the hind legs. I'm not sure if it is an artefact or genuine.



Robust Spreadwing 3023    (2 photos)
2024-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Female
Barbarus-renden.



Robust Spreadwing 3017    (2 photos)
2024-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Female
Barbarus-renden.
Eating prey. Old animal but still without any hint of the golden shoulder stripe, which is otherwise often to see on old individuals.



Robust Spreadwing 562    (2 photos)
2021-08-01    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Species characters not very clear here, but the female ovipositor does seem to protrude beyond the tip of S10, which indicates this species rather than Common Spreadwing.



Robust Spreadwing 1032    (1 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Mating, or attempting to.



Robust Spreadwing 2177    (1 photos)
2023-08-12    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Tandem.



Robust Spreadwing 3020    (2 photos)
2024-08-03    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Male & Female
Barbarus-renden. Tandem.



Robust Spreadwing 3019    (1 photos)
2024-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Map

Imago Male & Female
Barbarus-renden. Egg-laying.
Does the pruinosity on S2 on the male makes you wonder whether it could be a sponsa instead? Well, so did I, but still I think the border between dark and whitish is too strong for that male.
And the female with a strong golden shoulder stripe is confirmed by the extensive coppery markings on the pro-thorax and the ovipositor, though in an odd position, does look to run long passed the edge of S10. Good.