Family: Lestidae, Spread-winged Damselflies view all from this family

Description Male 1 3/8-1 1/2" (35-38 mm), female 1 1/4-1 1/2" (32-38 mm). Abdomen short and broad. Bright metallic green, darkening to deep blue-black. Sides of thorax and underside yellowish to brownish. Abdomen has narrow black or pale bands. Mouthparts pale yellow or greenish yellow. Wings clear.

Food Adult eats smaller insects. Naiad feeds on small aquatic insects.

Life Cycle Eggs are left on plants, above waterline. Naiads develop in ponds that dry up before end of summer, also in shaded pools and cattail marshes. Adults fly as early as June 1, as late as August 30.

Habitat Near small ponds, edges of slow streams, less often in marshy regions between cattail roots.

Range Quebec and Nova Scotia to Tennessee, west to California, north to Alaska.

Discussion This is the stockiest North American damselfly and one of the earliest to appear in summer.