Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa

Status | Photos | Distribution Maps Length: 35-39mm Wingspan: Male 42mm; Female 45mm; Hindwing  19-22mm Male: Metallic green in colour. This species has a slow maturation period of two to four weeks, over this period a blue pruinescence appears on the thorax between wings and segments 1,2, 9 and 10. Eyes blue. Confusion species is Scarce Emerald Damselfly which is extinct in Yorkshire. Both sexes rest with wings half open. Female: Metallic green, with pale beige sides to the thorax. Distinctly thicker abdomen than male. Behaviour  Weak flyer usually remaining close to  emergent vegetation, rarely going far over water. Copulation usually takes place close to breeding site and last from 30 minutes to over an hour. Females usually arrive to oviposit in tandem with the male. Oviposits in to stems of emergent grasses, rushes, sedges and horsetails, usually above surface, but can submerge, including the male. Fairly sedentary and can be absent from seemingly good sites. Habitat  Still or slow moving water such as ponds, bogs, ditches, canals and lake edges with dense emergent vegetation. Tolerates brackish and acidic water. Sensitive to excessive clearance of emergent vegetation. Flight Period Nationally: Late May to early October. Yorkshire: Late May, though more usually mid June to late September. Most abundant during late July. Population Status Found at many sites through VC61-64. Scarce or under recorded in VC65. <Previous Species | Species Index | Next Species>

Web Author: Paul Ashton - ©  Yorkshire Branch of the British Dragonfly Society 2005-2008 including all images unless otherwise stated. http://www.yorkshiredragonflies.org.uk