Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Suborder Zygoptera Scientific name Lestes inaequalis | Phylum Arthropoda Order Odonata Family Lestidae Rank Species | |
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Similar Lestes, Great spreadwing, Lestes vigilax, Lestes congener, Lestes rectangularis | ||
Lestes inaequalis is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. This species is known commonly as the elegant spreadwing. It is native to eastern North America, including eastern Canada and the United States.
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Description
This species is 45 to 60 millimeters long. The male has a metallic green and yellow thorax and a blue-tipped green abdomen. The body is pruinose, especially in older specimens. The female has a thicker body with duller coloration. This species is similar to the swamp spreadwing (L. vigilax) but larger in size, and to the amber-winged spreadwing (L. eurinus) but without the amber wings.
Biology
This species lives near freshwater bodies such as streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes. It may live under the canopy in wooded areas.
The elegant spreadwing is known to feed on smaller damselflies.
