- Spreadwing Damselflies
- Lestidae Family
- Great Spreadwing
- Archilestes grandis
- Southern Spreadwing
- Lestes australis
- Spotted Spreadwing
- Lestes congener
- Northern Spreadwing
- Lestes disjunctus
- Emerald Spreadwing
- Lestes dryas
- Sweetflag Spreadwing
- Lestes forcipatus
- Slender Spreadwing
- Lestes rectangularis
- Lyre-tipped Spreadwing
- Lestes unguiculatus
The Emerald Spreadwing is a small, early-season species. Both the male and female are a bright, metallic green color.
Rare. Nebraska is on the southern edge of the range of this transcontinental species, with no records south of Nebraska or Iowa. The records of this species are mainly from northwestern counties with scattered records farther east. The few records are all from marsh areas, usually with permanent water and often near rivers or large lakes.
Emerald Spreadwing pairs. Photo courtesy of Gordon Warrick.
Green indicates accepted county record (specimen or photograph).
Yellow indicates sight record only.
Size: 33-38mm (1.3-1.6 in)
Habitat: ponds, often temporary or wooded, with dense vegetation
Great Plains Range: NE, SD, ND, NM, CO, WY, MT, IA, MN
Flight season: early June to late July