Quick IdentificationEmerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Male Emerald Damselfly
Quick ID Guide
Welcome to my quick identification guide of the Emerald Damselfly.
These graphics are meant as a guide to the key identifying features of both the male and the female dragonflies.
The text section has been kindly written & supplied by Mr Ken Crick.
For a more complete species description, follow the link below to the Emerald Damselfly narrative.
The upper surfaces of the thorax and abdomen are mainly metallic green with a bronze sheen. The eyes are pastel blue as are segments 1, 2, 8, 9 & 10 of the abdomen and the sides of the thorax. When at rest the vernacular name "spreadwing" describes the species well with its pigment free wings partially open in contrast to the closed wings of most other damselflies. The future blue areas on immature specimens are coloured
buff / straw.
Female Emerald Damselfly
Alternatively follow the link to the main species page.
Not the species you were looking for.
All of the images and graphics are by Chris Brooks.
Metallic green on the upper surfaces of the thorax and abdomen; the sides and lower surfaces are straw to buff coloured. The female has no pastel blue pigmentation. Unlike the female demoiselles whose wings are suffused with colour the Emerald Damselfly has clear wings. The pterostigma may appear light in colour but never white as in the pseudo- pterostigma of the female demoiselles.
Chris Brooks Photography
(www.dragonfly-images.co.uk)
