| Home | Butterflies | Birds (media) | Flora and Fauna | My 5 Chickens | Daily | Spontaneous | About |
| Dragonflies | Other Photos | Observations | Species | Mexican birds | Checklists | TBP | Links |
Species account
Migrant Spreadwing
(Lestes barbarus)
(Fabricius, 1798)
Spreadwings (Lestidae) [Dragonflies] MISP 24778
Spreadwings (Lestidae) [Dragonflies] MISP 24778
Sydlig Kobbervandnymfe (dk)
Lestes Bárbaro (es)
Vandrande Smaragdflickslända (se)
Synonyms (common):
Southern Emerald Damselfly (gb)
Synonyms (scientific):
Agrion viridis Vander Linden, 1820 (nec 1825)
Agrion nympha Hansemann, 1823
Agrion nympha Hansemann, 1823
Measurements:
To 40-45mm Ab 26-35mm Hw 20-27mm
Flight period:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EU n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EU s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identification:
Imago:
pale green - broad shoulder stripe - bicolored wingmarks
The sexes are rather similar. A large bright-looking Lestes species with an overall pale green appearance. The upperpart of the thorax has an emerald green color when younger which turns to dark cobbery with age. The antehumeral stripe [shoulder stripe] is very broad and conspicuous in gold; the same color as the center line of the thorax [middorsal carina], which is also well-marked. The underside of the thorax is limegreen, and bordered with the darker upperpart by a more-or-less straight line. At the front of the pale part of the thorax there is an isolated dark spot colored as the upperpart of the thorax. The eyes are dull pale green with a dusky top that turns almost blackish on the old imago. The legs are streaked blackish and yellow-green. The abdomen follows the same colors as the thorax, upper and lower part respectively, and does not become pruinose with age, except for a restricted patch that can show on top of the male S10. The wing marks are always bicolored (half-half), dark proximally and whitish distally.
Male:
The upper appendages are whitish becoming blackish near the tip. They are almost the doble lenght of S10. The two converge and meet in a gentle curve. The outer distal edge shows a line a spikes. The lower appendages are dusky white and short [a third of the uppers] and diverge like two pointed hooks at the tip.
Female:
Overall whitish pale ovipositor, reaching the tip of S10. The lower ridge is blackish. The female appendages are almost the length of S10 and sharply pointed.
pale green - broad shoulder stripe - bicolored wingmarks
The sexes are rather similar. A large bright-looking Lestes species with an overall pale green appearance. The upperpart of the thorax has an emerald green color when younger which turns to dark cobbery with age. The antehumeral stripe [shoulder stripe] is very broad and conspicuous in gold; the same color as the center line of the thorax [middorsal carina], which is also well-marked. The underside of the thorax is limegreen, and bordered with the darker upperpart by a more-or-less straight line. At the front of the pale part of the thorax there is an isolated dark spot colored as the upperpart of the thorax. The eyes are dull pale green with a dusky top that turns almost blackish on the old imago. The legs are streaked blackish and yellow-green. The abdomen follows the same colors as the thorax, upper and lower part respectively, and does not become pruinose with age, except for a restricted patch that can show on top of the male S10. The wing marks are always bicolored (half-half), dark proximally and whitish distally.
Male:
The upper appendages are whitish becoming blackish near the tip. They are almost the doble lenght of S10. The two converge and meet in a gentle curve. The outer distal edge shows a line a spikes. The lower appendages are dusky white and short [a third of the uppers] and diverge like two pointed hooks at the tip.
Female:
Overall whitish pale ovipositor, reaching the tip of S10. The lower ridge is blackish. The female appendages are almost the length of S10 and sharply pointed.
Similar species:
Spreadwings and winterdamsels [Chalcolestes, Lestes, Sympecma]
Lestes sponsa:
No spur-like shape on side of thorax; has dark brown wing marks, but beware of young individuals that also have them white; different behavior and habitat; All four male appendages are dark, and the lower ones are long, straight and narrow, almost reaching the tip of the uppers; old eyes can turn blue.
Lestes dryas:
No spur-like shape on side of thorax; has dark brown wing marks, but beware of young individuals that also have them white; different behavior and habitat; the ovipositor of the female is normally longer reaching well behind the tip of S10; the pale shoulder stripe is normally absent; is a darker animal in general and the eyes often turn blue; the male appendages are all dark, and the lower ones are two thirds of the uppers and have a very significant spade-shaped tip pointing inward.
Lestes virens:
Smaller; no spur-like shape on side of thorax; has orange-brown wing marks, but beware of young individuals that also have them white; different behavior and habitat; the back side of the eyes is lime green; the shoulder stripe is narrower and perhaps absent when older; the old male eye can turn blue; the male appendages have the same lengths as viridis and are also whitish, but all more dusky dirty looking; the female ovipositor is normally completely pale (per literature) but my own observations show that they can show the same mix of dark and pale parts as viridis (see photos below); old individuals can show pruinosity on the last segments.
Lestes barbarus:
No spur-like shape on side of thorax; different behavior and habitat; the wing marks are always two-colored, whitish and dark-brown; the pale shoulder stripe is wide; the general look is of a paler animal; the male appendages are white - the upper ones with a black tip and innercurve, the lower ones are all white, half the length of the uppers and pointed in an outward turn.
Chalcolestes parvidens:
Wing-marks are dark brown; male upper appendages are all white but with a black tip and the dent that is seen on the inside on viridens is almost absent; the lower ones are dark but not black; the female ovipositor has less than 10 spikes (dents) along the ventral distal ridge [beware of hybrids that might have 9].
Sympecma species:
In general brown and beige without any green colors; the brown wing marks of fore- and hindwings are shifted compared to each other - the marks on the forewings are closer to the tip than on the hindwings (seen best when wings are collapsed); different behavior and habitat.
Lestes sponsa:
No spur-like shape on side of thorax; has dark brown wing marks, but beware of young individuals that also have them white; different behavior and habitat; All four male appendages are dark, and the lower ones are long, straight and narrow, almost reaching the tip of the uppers; old eyes can turn blue.
Lestes dryas:
No spur-like shape on side of thorax; has dark brown wing marks, but beware of young individuals that also have them white; different behavior and habitat; the ovipositor of the female is normally longer reaching well behind the tip of S10; the pale shoulder stripe is normally absent; is a darker animal in general and the eyes often turn blue; the male appendages are all dark, and the lower ones are two thirds of the uppers and have a very significant spade-shaped tip pointing inward.
Lestes virens:
Smaller; no spur-like shape on side of thorax; has orange-brown wing marks, but beware of young individuals that also have them white; different behavior and habitat; the back side of the eyes is lime green; the shoulder stripe is narrower and perhaps absent when older; the old male eye can turn blue; the male appendages have the same lengths as viridis and are also whitish, but all more dusky dirty looking; the female ovipositor is normally completely pale (per literature) but my own observations show that they can show the same mix of dark and pale parts as viridis (see photos below); old individuals can show pruinosity on the last segments.
Lestes barbarus:
No spur-like shape on side of thorax; different behavior and habitat; the wing marks are always two-colored, whitish and dark-brown; the pale shoulder stripe is wide; the general look is of a paler animal; the male appendages are white - the upper ones with a black tip and innercurve, the lower ones are all white, half the length of the uppers and pointed in an outward turn.
Chalcolestes parvidens:
Wing-marks are dark brown; male upper appendages are all white but with a black tip and the dent that is seen on the inside on viridens is almost absent; the lower ones are dark but not black; the female ovipositor has less than 10 spikes (dents) along the ventral distal ridge [beware of hybrids that might have 9].
Sympecma species:
In general brown and beige without any green colors; the brown wing marks of fore- and hindwings are shifted compared to each other - the marks on the forewings are closer to the tip than on the hindwings (seen best when wings are collapsed); different behavior and habitat.
Life stages:
Females, in tandem or solo, insert eggs into plant material above water. Eggs overwinter and larvae develop to images in few months (same season).
Distribution:
Most of Europe; almost absent British isles and Scandinavian peninsula. Also eastward through C Asia to China, included.
Habitat:
Prefers shallow coastal water ponds or lagoons with high water temperatures and ephemeral tendencies.
Behavior:
Host plants:
Various water plants including, at times, willows and other bushes along the shore.
Endemic:
Redlist
(?):NE: Not evaluated
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
RE: Regionally extinct
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
RE: Regionally extinct
LC(global) LC(eu) LC(EU) (NA)dk
Status
Rare in Denmark but increasing. First records in Denmark are from Skallingen, Vestjylland from 1933 (museum speciemen). Since then and until 2005, when a single male was registered near Odense, Fyn, the presence of the species has been uncertain. From 2005 onward the species has increased mainly in the southern and eastern part of the country with breeding populations probably in several places (Als, Ærø, Knudshoved Odde, Dyrehaven(Copenhagen), Amager?) Also seen: Avernakø, Møn (Gåsesøen og Klinteskoven), Falster (Bøtø), Rømø, Røsnæs, Ordrup Næs (Odsherred).
Comment:
|
1993
(2 photos)
2023-08-06 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Granathøj. Todays surprise, only being out looking for my lost bike lock, which I found in the exact same spot where this beauty was perched. In the sedges along the narrow channel. But in the strong NE wind unfortunately I lost it quickly after having taken these photos. It was sitting close to a female sponsa [Almindelig Kobbervandnymfe] and the size difference was striking, barbarus being much larger (seemed much larger even than the viridis [Grøn Kobbervandnymfe] that I've just seen in Jutland). Rare |
|
2905
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male At the first water hole after the western parking lot. I only had males except for a fly-away tandem pair. |
|
2913
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male 19 males seen today and only a single female in tandem. How far away are the females until they are ready to mate? |
|
2912
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male |
|
2911
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male |
|
2910
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male When defecating the male sometimes spread out the upper appendages to clear the way. |
|
2909
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus is a very pale animal compared to the two common species in Denmark, sponsa and dryas. And being larger too, it is easy to spot when it is flushed, but more difficult to detect when sitting in the vegetation. |
|
2908
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male |
|
2907
(1 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male |
|
2906
(3 photos)
2024-07-29 Knudshoved Odde (sydsjælland), Denmark Imago Male |
|
2919
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2929
(2 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2928
(3 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2927
(2 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2926
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2925
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2924
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2923
(2 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2920
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2918
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2917
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2916
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2915
(1 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2946
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2938
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2945
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2944
(2 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2943
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2942
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2941
(2 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2939
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2937
(3 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2936
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2940
(1 photos)
2024-07-31 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. One would assume that this one is a younger individual based on the pale apple green color on the side of the thorax, but I've experienced that depending on the exposure when taking the photo the appearance of such an animal can easily look much darker if under-exposed why other markers, such as pruinosity, width of pale should line, are better suited for aging. |
|
2956
(2 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2957
(2 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2955
(2 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2954
(1 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2953
(1 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2952
(4 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. On of the rare occasions where a Lestes individual is sitting directly on the ground. Actually, I don't think I've seen it before. It soon retreated to the vegetation, as the photos show. |
|
2951
(1 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2950
(1 photos)
2024-08-01 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. |
|
2987
(5 photos)
2024-08-02 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-renden. 5 different males. 5 of 6 males seen here today. |
|
3006
(4 photos)
2024-08-03 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-renden. 1 of 6 males here today. |
|
3005
(1 photos)
2024-08-03 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-renden. 1 of 6 males here today. |
|
3004
(1 photos)
2024-08-03 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-renden. 1 of 6 males here today. |
|
3003
(1 photos)
2024-08-03 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-renden. 1 of 6 males here today. |
|
3007
(1 photos)
2024-08-06 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet. 1 of 4 males today. |
|
2986
(1 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-renden. |
|
2995
(14 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-vandhullet. 11 of 12 males here today. 1, 2-3, 4, 5, 6-7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12-13, 14. |
|
2998
(1 photos)
2024-08-17 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male Barbarus-renden. |
|
3034
(2 photos)
2024-08-19 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-renden. 1 of 3 males here today. |
|
3033
(2 photos)
2024-08-19 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Barbarus-renden. 1 of 3 males here today. |
|
3376
(5 photos)
2025-09-09 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male Engsø. Mature. My first and only barbarus this year. Very likely a visitor from outside, having nothing to do with the influx last year. I visited both places today, where I had them last year, just in case, but it was as dead as it has been all year. The blurred layer cake pattern on the yellow patch behind the eyes looks funny, but apparently is a trait of the old individuals. Captured |
|
1112
(6 photos)
2022-09-01 Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark POSITION Imago Female Stokkerup Dam. Egg-laying. Bit of a surprise to find this rare species. I was looking for Small Spreadwing which had been found a few days earlier in another pond at this locality. That one I didn't find, but I do not complain to have found this good species instead of, which has only started to show up in Denmark during recent years. Without my knowing other individuals had been found, also a few days earlier, in a small pond, Stille Vand, further south in the park, by Ib Fagerlund, why this animal is an addition to the total. I visited the spot again a few days later, but couldn't find it. Nor at Stille Vand did I find any. Will be interesting to see how they show up next year. Hoping to find one on Amager, along with the smaller cousin... Rare |
|
2921
(2 photos)
2024-07-30 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Female Barbarus-vandhullet ved Birkedammen. Apart from a tandem flying away this is the only female I've seen at this water hole. Probably on its way to find a mate. |
|
3000
(3 photos)
2024-08-05 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Female Barbarus-renden. Started out as a tandem, but I probably disturbed them and the female tried to deposit eggs alone, for a while, and then I lost it. |
|
2989
(6 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Female Barbarus-renden. |
|
3035
(4 photos)
2024-08-19 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Female Barbarus-renden. With 3 males and 2 pairs here today. |
|
2985
(7 photos)
2024-08-02 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Egg-laying. My first pair on Amager in an unseeingly short ditch away from the main water hole , where I've found most animals so far. The ditch holds a wet and a dry end, and all the encounters I've had with the species here have been in the dry end. I'm not sure if the egg-depositing attempt in photo 3 is for real or just a stress-reflex caused by my presence. Saying this because the straw looks mighty thin and less suited for the purpose. |
|
3002
(5 photos)
2024-08-03 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Egg-laying. |
|
3001
(3 photos)
2024-08-03 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. |
|
2992
(4 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Egg-laying. 1 of 4 pairs today. |
|
2991
(2 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Egg-laying. 1 of 4 pairs today. |
|
2990
(4 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Mating wheel. 1 of 4 pairs today. |
|
2993
(1 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Tandem. 1 of 4 pairs today. |
|
2994
(2 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Mating wheel. 1 of 5 pairs today. I'm sure I had 4 pairs when walking through the ditch. But now I've got 5 sets of photos of pairs from there today, all named separately. So, either some of the photo sets show the same pair, which is difficult to confirm from the [slightly poor] photos, or I lost control on site. Either way, in the name of congruence, from now on I decide to exclaim that I've seen 5 pairs today! Don't you just love it when problem-solving is as easy as cookie-jar snatching from your best friend's stepmother's winter kitchen in the house along the beach..? |
|
2997
(5 photos)
2024-08-12 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-vandhullet. Tandem. First accessible pair at this spot. |
|
2999
(2 photos)
2024-08-17 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark POSITION Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Tandem. |
|
3032
(2 photos)
2024-08-19 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Tandem. |
|
3036
(2 photos)
2024-08-19 Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark Imago Male & Female Barbarus-renden. Mating wheel. |