# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Common Spreadwing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lestes_sponsa_LC0314.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jörg Hempel, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lestes_sponsa_LC0314.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Lestidae - **Genus:** Lestes ## Interesting facts - 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. ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Common Spreadwing has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects from far away. - **Aerial Ace:** Common Spreadwing can zip and dart through the air because of its powerful wings, catching food mid-flight. - **Open-Wing Rest:** Common Spreadwing holds its wings wide open at rest, a unique pose that makes it easy to identify. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-55 mm - **Size:** 35-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Nimble aerial hunter, gobbling up tiny flying insects with amazing speed! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults eat flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, midges, small flies, aphids - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — Fish feast on its underwater babies. ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch dragonflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Spreadwing? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Common Spreadwing's wingspan? 40-55 mm ### How big is Common Spreadwing? 35-45 mm ### How long does Common Spreadwing live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Common Spreadwing fly? 10 km/h ### What does Common Spreadwing eat? Nimble aerial hunter, gobbling up tiny flying insects with amazing speed! ### Where is Common Spreadwing usually found? Wetlands ### How does Common Spreadwing hunt? Pursuit ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Common Spreadwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-spreadwing)