Southern Emerald Damselfly

Taxobox | name = Southern Emerald Damselfly

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Lestes barbarus", male
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Odonata
familia = Lestidae
genus = "Lestes"
species = "L. barbarus"
binomial = "Lestes barbarus"

Southern Emerald Damselfly ("Lestes barbarus") is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It likes acidic or neutral still waters and often strays from breeding waters.

tatus in Britain

This species was first recorded in Britain at Winterton Dunes, Norfolk on 30 July 2002 (Nobes 2003). There were 3 males. In 2003 & 2004, the species was again seen here and at Sandwich Bay, Kent (Forrest 2005). Although mainly a Mediterranean species, it has increased in the Netherlands, where it now breeds in coastal dunes. It is recorded in the Channel Islands, where it has been breeding since 1995.

Identification

This damselfly differs from the resident British emeralds in having two-coloured pterostigmata like the Blue-tailed Damselfly and the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, although it is longer and about four times the width. The wings are usually held well out from the body. Both sexes are mainly metallic green, becominmg bronze as they get older, with yellow eyes.

The males' lower anal appendages are small, pointed and curved outwards.

Immatures have pale pterostigmata

References

* Forrest, P. J. (2005) Southern Emerald Damselfly "Lestes barbarus" (Fabr.) at Sandwich Bay, Kent Atropos No. 24 pp.24-25
* Nobes, Geoff (2003) Southern Emerald Damselfly "Lestes barbarus" (Fabr.) - The First British Record Atropos No. 18 pp.3-6