Westliche Weidenjungfer (Chalcolestes viridis)

• English name: Western Willow Spreadwing
• German name: Westliche Weidenjungfer
• French name: Leste vert
• Dutch name: Houtpantserjuffer
• Swedish name: Västlig trädflickslända
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: Pajukeijukorento
• Danish name: Grøn kobbervandnymfe
• Italian name: Verdina maggiore
• Czech name: šídlatka velká
• Slovenian name: Zelena pazverca
• Bulgarian name: Върбово кротиче

Westliche Weidenjungfer (Chalcolestes viridis)

Not present

Present before 1990

Present after 1990

Present before and after 1990

Present after 2015

Map data based on J.-P. Boudot & V. J. Kalkman (eds.),
Atlas of the European Dragonflies and Damselflies

General		• a fairly large, metallic green or brown species; common throughout Europe except the British Isles, Scandinavia and south-eastern Europe
Classification		• suborder: Zygoptera (damselflies); family: Lestidae
Conservation status		• IUCN Red List Europe: Least Concern
Scientific name		• Chalcolestes viridis (Vander Linden, 1825)
Distribution		• click or tap the Map button above
Habitat		• still or slow-flowing waters with trees or bushes on the banks
Dimensions		• typical body length: 39-48 mm; hindwing: 23-28 mm
Notes		• like all other (Chalco)lestes species, often spreads its wings at a 45° angle when at rest
		• females lay their eggs in soft-wooded trees, e.g. willow (Salix sp.), near the water's edge
		• (Chalco)lestes species overwinter as eggs (in diapause) rather than as larvae or adults
		• used to be known as Lestes viridis
Both sexes	Thorax	➤ the side of the thorax has a metallic green or brown 'spur'
	Abdomen	• there is no pruinescence on the abdomen
	Wings	• the large pterostigma is dark golden yellow
Male	Abdomen	➤ the tip and sides of the male's upper appendages are often (extensively) black
Female	Abdomen	➤ the ovipositor bears 10-14 smallish teeth
Photographs		• nearly all of our photos below were made in Tuscany

LineDrawing: Chalcolestes viridis and C. parvidens: the male's appendages in dorsal view.

Chalcolestes viridis (left) and C. parvidens (right); appendages, male
Note the black sides of the appendages in C. viridis and the very small inner subapical tooth in C. parvidens.

Chalcolestes viridis (left) and C. parvidens (right); ovipositor, female
Note the larger number of teeth on the ovipositor in C. viridis (10-14) than in C. parvidens (6-8).
Drawings © by H. von Hagen. Reproduced here with the author's permission.

Chalcolestes viridis (left) and C. parvidens (right)
Male appendages in dorsal view
Drawing by Ruth Ilka Nüß
© 2013 Lehmann & Nüß and DragonflyPix.com