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Lestidae - Spread-Winged Damselflies

There are over 150 species in this family of insects.

Like most damselflies, the species in this family have long, thin bodies and long, thin wings.

Unlike other damselflies, the species in this family hold their wings slightly open when they are at rest. Damselflies in other families hold their wings together when they are at rest.

Spread-winged damselflies have transparent wings with one black spot called the pterostigma on the tip of each of their four wings. They are 1-2 inches in length, and many species have metallic green bodies, and most species have round, bluish-green eyes on the sides of their heads.

Spread-winged damselflies are found around ponds and swamps, where they can be seen perching on grass and plant stems.

  • The great spreadwing is found in western and southern regions of the United States. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Great Spreadwing
    (Archilestes grandis)
    The great spreadwing is found in western and southern regions of the United States. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The eastern willow spreadwing is found in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Corsica, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Syria, Türkiye, and Ukraine. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Eastern Willow Spreadwing
    (Chalcolestes parvidens)
    The eastern willow spreadwing is found in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Corsica, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Syria, Türkiye, and Ukraine. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The western willow spreadwing is found in Europe and northwest Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Western Willow Spreadwing
    (Chalcolestes viridis)
    The western willow spreadwing is found in Europe and northwest Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Indolestes peregrinus is found in China, Japan, and North and South Korea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Indolestes peregrinus
    (Indolestes peregrinus)
    Indolestes peregrinus is found in China, Japan, and North and South Korea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The migrant spreadwing is found in southern Europe eastwards to Mongolia and northern China. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Migrant Spreadwing
    (Lestes barbarus)
    The migrant spreadwing is found in southern Europe eastwards to Mongolia and northern China. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The spotted spreadwing is found in Canada and across much of the United States, except for some southern states. It is found in New Hampshire in the fall. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Spotted Spreadwing
    (Lestes congener)
    The spotted spreadwing is found in Canada and across much of the United States, except for some southern states. It is found in New Hampshire in the fall. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The northern spreadwing is found across much of North America. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Northern Spreadwing
    (Lestes disjunctus)
    The northern spreadwing is found across much of North America. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The sweetflag spreadwing is found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Sweetflag Spreadwing
    (Lestes forcipatus)
    The sweetflag spreadwing is found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Lestes nodalis is found in China, Myanmar, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Lestes nodalis
    (Lestes nodalis)
    Lestes nodalis is found in China, Myanmar, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The pallid spreadwing is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pallid Spreadwing
    (Lestes pallidus)
    The pallid spreadwing is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The scalloped spreadwing is found from India to China. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Scalloped Spreadwing
    (Lestes praemorsus)
    The scalloped spreadwing is found from India to China. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The slender spreadwing is found in the eastern United States. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Slender Spreadwing
    (Lestes rectangularis)
    The slender spreadwing is found in the eastern United States. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The emerald damselfly, is found from western Europe to Japan. It is also known as the common spreadwing. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened in Europe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Emerald Damselfly
    (Lestes sponsa)
    The emerald damselfly, is found from western Europe to Japan. It is also known as the common spreadwing. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened in Europe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The lyre-tipped spreadwing is found in the northern U.S. and Canada. It is found in New Hampshire, but it is rare. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Lyre-Tipped Spreadwing
    (Lestes unguiculatus)
    The lyre-tipped spreadwing is found in the northern U.S. and Canada. It is found in New Hampshire, but it is rare. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The swamp spreadwing is found from Southeastern Canada and Minnesota and south to Florida and Oklahoma and Texas. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Swamp Spreadwing
    (Lestes vigilax)
    The swamp spreadwing is found from Southeastern Canada and Minnesota and south to Florida and Oklahoma and Texas. It is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The small emerald spreadwing is found across much of Europe and in central and southwest Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Small Emerald Spreadwing
    (Lestes virens)
    The small emerald spreadwing is found across much of Europe and in central and southwest Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The smoky spreadwing is found in Angola, Botswana, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Smoky Spreadwing
    (Lestes virgatus)
    The smoky spreadwing is found in Angola, Botswana, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Lestes viridulus is found in Bangladesh, India, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Lestes viridulus
    (Lestes viridulus)
    Lestes viridulus is found in Bangladesh, India, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Orolestes wallacei is found in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Orolestes wallacei
    (Orolestes wallacei)
    Orolestes wallacei is found in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The common winter damsel is found in Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Common Winter Damsel
    (Sympecma fusca)
    The common winter damsel is found in Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Siberian winter damsel is found from western Europe to Japan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Siberian Winter Damsel
    (Sympecma paedisca)
    The Siberian winter damsel is found from western Europe to Japan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

The slender spreadwing is one of the species found in this family.
The slender spreadwing is one of the species found in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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