Slender Spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis) is a very elongate, gracile species, with a proportionately very long abdomen. It is found commonly throughout Maryland. This species is found in a wide variety of habitats, from well-vegetated lakes and ponds, to wooded wetlands, slow streams, and sometimes vernal pools (Paulson, 2011).
Slender Spreadwing in Somerset Co., Maryland (9/28/2020). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
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Slender Spreadwing in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/20/2010). (c) Mike Ostrowski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA).
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Mike Ostrowski.
Lestes rectangularis is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. It is known by the common name slender spreadwing.[1][2] It is native to eastern North America, including eastern Canada and the United States.[1][2]
This damselfly is long and thin. The body is black with a pale blue face, and the wings have yellow edges. The female is larger, with paler yellow on the wings. This species lives along springs and drying ponds.[3]