Common Spreadwing

Lestes sponsa

The Common Spreadwing is a beautiful dragonfly with long wings that spread out like a fan. They love to fly around ponds and wetlands, where they can be seen gliding gracefully in the air.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Common Spreadwing has a slender body, often metallic green or bronze with distinctive black markings. Males can develop bright blue spots near their tail. Its clear wings are held wide open even when resting, a key feature distinguishing it from other damselflies.

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Common Spreadwing

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Baby spreadwings, called nymphs, live underwater for months, breathing through gills!

Despite their small size, they are fierce predators of annoying mosquitoes!

They shed their entire skin multiple times as they grow, like a tiny dragon!

When mating, a male and female Common Spreadwing form a fascinating 'heart' shape.

Habilidades especiales

Common Spreadwing has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects from far away.

Common Spreadwing can zip and dart through the air because of its powerful wings, catching food mid-flight.

Common Spreadwing holds its wings wide open at rest, a unique pose that makes it easy to identify.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 40-55 mm
Tamaño: 35-45 mm
Esperanza de vida: 30-90 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 10 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Nimble aerial hunter, gobbling up tiny flying insects with amazing speed!

Diferencias por edad: Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults eat flying insects.

Alimentos principales

mosquitoes
gnats
midges
small flies
aphids

Método de búsqueda

Pursuit

Conexiones ecológicas

hunts

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Keeps mosquito populations in check.

eaten by

Blackbird

Turdus merula

A tasty snack for many birds.

eaten by

European Perch

Perca fluviatilis

Fish feast on its underwater babies.

Rasgos

Aéreo

Las criaturas aéreas pasan una parte importante de su vida en el aire, utilizando el vuelo para diversas actividades como la caza, la migración o la anidación.

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Insectívoro

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos cuya dieta consiste principalmente en insectos y otros pequeños invertebrados.

Planeo

Los animales planeadores se mueven por el aire lanzándose y manteniendo el vuelo con estructuras corporales especializadas, sin batir las alas.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.