# Western Willow Spreadwing (*Chalcolestes viridis*) The Western Willow Spreadwing is a beautiful dragonfly with long, slender wings. It loves to flutter around wetlands and ponds, where it can be seen resting on plants or flying gracefully. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Western Willow Spreadwing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2017.08.06.-04-Kirschgartshaeuser_Schlaege_Mannheim--Weidenjungfer-Maennchen.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andreas Eichler, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2017.08.06.-04-Kirschgartshaeuser_Schlaege_Mannheim--Weidenjungfer-Maennchen.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Willow Spreadwing has a metallic green or bronze body, often with a frosted blue tip on the male's abdomen. Its clear wings are held partially spread out from its body when at rest, unlike many other damselflies which keep them folded together. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Lestidae - **Genus:** Chalcolestes ## Interesting facts - Wow! Each of their compound eyes has thousands of tiny lenses to help them spot prey! - Wow! Male spreadwings sometimes 'guard' females even after mating to protect their eggs! - Wow! Their young, called nymphs, can use a kind of jet propulsion to escape danger underwater! - Wow! They are like tiny flying guardians, showing that nearby wetlands are healthy! ## Special abilities - **Plant Puncture Pro:** Western Willow Spreadwing can lay eggs inside plant stems above water, which helps protect its young from aquatic predators. - **Underwater Breath:** Western Willow Spreadwing nymphs have special feathery gills at their tail end that help them breathe underwater. - **Mid-Air Maneuvers:** Western Willow Spreadwing can swiftly catch tiny insects in mid-air, allowing them to hunt effectively for food. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 35-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny flying insects are their favorite meal, caught expertly in the air! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates, while adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Midges, Mosquitoes, Small flies, Aphids - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Adults and nymphs are prey for waterfowl. - **Eaten by:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — Adults can be caught by amphibians near water. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Hunts mosquitoes, helping control their populations. - **Depends on:** White Willow (*Salix alba*) — Lays eggs inside the stems of willows and other water plants. ## Traits - [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 Always watch dragonflies from a distance; they are friendly but like their space. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Willow 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 Western Willow Spreadwing's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is Western Willow Spreadwing? 35-45 mm ### How long does Western Willow Spreadwing live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Western Willow Spreadwing fly? 8 km/h ### What does Western Willow Spreadwing eat? Tiny flying insects are their favorite meal, caught expertly in the air! ### Where is Western Willow Spreadwing usually found? Wetlands ### How does Western Willow 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: [Western Willow Spreadwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-willow-spreadwing)