''Lestes barbarus'' is a species of

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 ...

of the family

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 ...

, the spreadwings. Its

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...

s in English include southern emerald damselfly, shy emerald damselfly, and migrant spreadwing.

Distribution and habitat

''Lestes barbarus'' is a European–central Asian species with isolated populations in North Africa and a range expanding northward. It is found across southern Europe in a band across

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

and

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

and

Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...

. It is less common in northern Europe, although some are found as far north as Sweden. It breeds in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

in coastal dunes and is increasing in number. It is at the edge of its range in the

Channel Islands The Channel Islands are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They are divided into two Crown Dependencies: the Jersey, Bailiwick of Jersey, which is the largest of the islands; and the Bailiwick of Guernsey, ...

, where it has been breeding since 1995. It is also found in

North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

; it gets its Latin name as the first specimen was found in

Barbary The Barbary Coast (also Barbary, Berbery, or Berber Coast) were the coastal regions of central and western North Africa, more specifically, the Maghreb and the Ottoman borderlands consisting of the regencies in Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, a ...

, North Africa. It is a damselfly of still water and can be found in stagnant and slightly brackish water. This species was first recorded in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

Winterton Dunes Winterton Dunes is an extensive dune system on the east coast of Norfolk, England, which has been designated as a National Nature Reserve of 109 ha. Winterton Dunes is within the Norfolk Coast AONB. The site is unusual in that it shows greater ...

, Norfolk, on 30 July 2002.Nobes, G. (2003). Southern Emerald Damselfly ''Lestes barbarus'' (Fabr.) – The First British Record. ''

Atropos Atropos (; "without turn"), in Greek mythology, was the third of the Three Fates or Moirai, goddesses of fate and destiny. Her Roman equivalent was Morta. Atropos was one of the Three Fates and was known as "the Inflexible One." It was Atro ...

'' No. 18, pp. 3–6. In 2003 and 2004 it was noted at

Sandwich Bay, Kent Sandwich Bay is a long sweeping inlet of the sea between Ramsgate and Deal, on the east coast of Kent, England. The coastal area consists of sand flats with their associated salt marshes and coastal sand dunes. The ''Sandwich Flats'' stretch f ...

.Forrest, P. J. (2005). Southern Emerald Damselfly ''Lestes barbarus'' (Fabr.) at Sandwich Bay, Kent. ''Atropos'' No. 24, pp. 24–25. In 2018 it was proven to have bred in Britain for the first time.

Identification

This species has the typical appearance of a ''Lestes'' damselfly with a metallic green body and wings held away from the body at rest. It differs from the other European ''Lestes'' in having bicoloured

pterostigma The pterostigma (plural: pterostigmata) is a group of specialized cells in the outer wings of insects, which are often thickened or coloured, and thus stand out from other cells. It is particularly noticeable in dragonflies, but present also in ...

ta, which is diagnostic. The male abdominal appendage and female ovipositor are also characteristic and unlike those of '' L. sponsa'' or '' L. dryas''. Immatures have pale pterostigmata and only develop the characteristic two-coloured pterostigmata when mature.

Behaviour

The flight period is from March to October in the south of its range but in north it flies mainly from June to August. Its behaviour is similar to that of ''L. sponsa'', but it is more likely to be found away from water. After mating the pair usually remain in tandem while the female lays eggs on waterside plants. The eggs overwinter in

diapause In animal dormancy, diapause is the delay in development in response to regular and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions.Tauber, M.J., Tauber, C.A., Masaki, S. (1986) ''Seasonal Adaptations of Insects''. Oxford University Press It ...

and the

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e hatch in spring. The larvae develop within two months, the adults emerging in late spring.

Notes

References

* Askew, R. R. ''The Dragonflies of Europe'' (Revised). Harley Books. 2004. pp 58–66. * d'Aguilar, J., Dommanget, J. L., and Prechac, R. ''A Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain, Europe and North Africa''. Collins. 1986. pp 168–178. * Gibbons, R. B. ''Dragonflies and Damselflies of Britain and Northern Europe''. Country Life Books. 1986. pp 54–62.

External links

* *
Southern Emerald Damselfly (''Lestes barbarus'').
British Dragonfly Society. {{Taxonbar, from=Q11688916

barbarus A barbarian is a person or tribe of people that is perceived to be primitive, savage and warlike. Many cultures have referred to other cultures as barbarians, sometimes out of misunderstanding and sometimes out of prejudice. A "barbarian" may ...