The great spreadwing (''Archilestes grandis'') is a

damselfly Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies (which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Epiprocta) but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the win ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Lestidae The Lestidae are a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender Damselfly, damselflies, known commonly as the spreadwings or spread-winged damselflies. Characteristics While most Zygoptera, damselflies rest with their wings folded ...

. When great spreadwings are startled they often return to the same perch or a perch nearby.

Characteristics

The great spreadwing is one of the largest North American spreadwings, with a length of 2-2.4 inches and a wingspan of 3 inches. The

thorax The thorax (: thoraces or thoraxes) or chest is a part of the anatomy of mammals and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main di ...

of the male is dull greenish bronze above it is a broad diagonal yellow stripe on sides. It is also the only species with a broad yellow racing stripe on the sides of thorax. The

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...

is dark with a blue-gray tip. Its eyes and face are blue. Females are similar to males but are more brown on the body. Her eyes are more of a paler blue than the male. The yellow stripe also occurs on the female great spreadwing. When females are laying eggs they may appear in a putty-color. It is much the same color as the withered leaves in which they lay eggs.

Distribution

The great spreadwing is found in western and southern North America. It is more common in western United States than in the eastern. The great spreadwing can also be found in Central America and northern South America. In the 1920s and later ''Archilestes grandis'' has recently expanded its range in North America to the east and north.

Habitat

The great spreadwing prefers slow small streams, often with

alder Alders are trees of the genus ''Alnus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus includes about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species ex ...

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions. Most species are known ...

s, wetlands, ponds and temporary pools. It breeds readily in heavily vegetated water gardens with unpolluted water, as well as in natural water. Females will

oviposit The ovipositor is a tube-like organ used by some animals, especially insects, for the laying of eggs. In insects, an ovipositor consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages. The details and morphology of the ovipositor vary, but typical ...

in vegetation such as water iris while clasped by males. The male great spreadwings hanging from vegetation either over or near water, usually fairly low, like under 2 feet. On an occasion the

nymph A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...

s can be spotted in winter, basking in sunwarmed shallow water alongside tadpoles. They are recognizable by their Y tails which are actually their gills.

Flight season

This species is most active from April–December. The timing varies with temperature.

Life cycle

When great spreadwings are mating and after collection of sperm, the female cuts a slit in emergent vegetation and oviposits in it. Then nymphs develop underwater until they climb out, ready to emerge as adults. Like other Odonates, emergence usually occurs under the cover of darkness.

References

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Great Spreadwing - Archilestes grandis - BugGuide.Net
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Wisconsin Odonata Survey - Archilestes grandis
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Great Spreadwing - Archilestes grandis
Lestidae Odonata of North America Insects of the United States Fauna of the Western United States {{commons category