Spread-winged Damselflies

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Hexapoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Odonata

Family: Lestidae

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 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.