# Spotted Spreadwing (*Lestes congener*) The Spotted Spreadwing is a beautiful dragonfly with long wings and spots on its body. It loves to flutter around water, where it hunts for tiny insects to eat. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Spotted Spreadwing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lestes_species.jpg&width=800) Photo: JerryFriedman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lestes_species.jpg) ## Appearance The Spotted Spreadwing has a slender body that gleams metallic green or bronze. Its clear wings feature distinctive pale, often bicolored, spots near the tips. Unlike most damselflies, it rests with its wings held slightly open, not pressed together. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Lestidae - **Genus:** Lestes ## Interesting facts - Older damselflies sometimes get a powdery blue or white coating, making them look totally different! - Spotted Spreadwings get their name because they rest with their wings partly open. - Their babies live underwater for almost a year before becoming flying adults! - They use their six spiky legs like a basket to scoop up tiny flying insects in mid-air. ## Special abilities - **Underwater Hunter:** Spotted Spreadwing larvae can breathe and hunt underwater using special feathery gills, helping them survive until they grow wings. - **Wing Warm-up Spots:** Spotted Spreadwing has special dark wing spots (pterostigmata) that absorb sunlight, helping warm its body so it can fly faster. - **Instant Air Snatcher:** The Spotted Spreadwing has lightning-fast reflexes and spiky legs to snatch small flying insects right out of the air for a quick meal. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-55 mm - **Size:** 30-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny flying insects are the favorite meal for the Spotted Spreadwing! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, midges, gnats, small flies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Hunts these tiny pests in the air. - **Eaten by:** [Green Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-frog) (*Rana clamitans*) — A quick snack for hungry frogs near water. - **Eaten by:** Mosquitofish (*Gambusia affinis*) — Eats its young (nymphs) living underwater. - **Shelter:** [Cattail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattail) (*Typha latifolia*) — Resting and hunting perches among its stalks. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [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 Be careful around water where these dragonflies live, and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spotted 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 Spotted Spreadwing's wingspan? 40-55 mm ### How big is Spotted Spreadwing? 30-45 mm ### How long does Spotted Spreadwing live? 30-60 days ### What does Spotted Spreadwing eat? Tiny flying insects are the favorite meal for the Spotted Spreadwing! ### Where is Spotted Spreadwing usually found? Wetlands ### How does Spotted Spreadwing hunt? Pursuit ### How many legs does Spotted Spreadwing have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cox-arboretum-and-gardens-metropark) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden - [General Squier Memorial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/general-squier-memorial-park) — Michigan, US · Park ## 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: [Spotted Spreadwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-spreadwing)