Robust Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)
• English name: Robust Spreadwing
• German name: Glänzende Binsenjungfer
• French name: Leste des bois
• Dutch name: Tangpantserjuffer
• Swedish name: Kraftig smaragdflickslända
• Norwegian name: Sørlig metallvannymfe
• Finnish name: Isokeijukorento
• Danish name: Sortmærket kobbervandnymfe
• Italian name: Verdina robusta
• Czech name: šídlatka tmavá
• Slovenian name: Obrežna zverca
• Bulgarian name: Обикновено кротиче
Robust Spreadwing
(Lestes dryas)
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, heavily-built metallic green or brown species which occurs throughout Europe except the far north | |
| Classification | • suborder: Zygoptera (damselflies); family: Lestidae | |
| Conservation status | • IUCN Red List Europe: Least Concern | |
| Scientific name | • Lestes dryas Kirby, 1890 | |
| Name genus | • Lestes: from Grk. λῃστής = robber, thief | |
| Name species | • dryas: after Δρυάς, a tree nymph in Greek mythology | |
| Distribution | • click or tap the Map button above | |
| Habitat | • still, shallow waters and wetlands which dry up in the course of summer | |
| Dimensions | • typical body length: 35-40 mm; hindwing: 20-25 mm | |
| Notes | • like all other (Chalco)lestes species, often spreads its wings at a 45° angle when at rest | |
| • (Chalco)lestes species overwinter as eggs (in diapause) rather than as larvae or adults | ||
| • very similar to the slightly smaller and more slender L. sponsa | ||
| Both sexes | Thorax | • the upper part of the thorax is metallic green or brown; the lower part is white/yellow |
| Abdomen | • the upper part of the abdomen is metallic green or brown; the lower part is white/yellow | |
| ➤ the abdomen is rather thickset compared to the similar L. sponsa | ||
| Wings | • the pterostigma is dark, often with a fine white line laterally | |
| Legs | • the legs are all black | |
| Male | Thorax | • in mature males the lower part of the thorax is covered with a whitish blue pruinescence |
| Abdomen | • in mature males S1, most of S2, S9 and S10 are extensively covered with a whitish blue pruinescence | |
| ➤ the lower appendages are curved inwards and have broad tips | ||
| Female | Thorax | • the thorax is seldom covered by pruinescence |
| Abdomen | • the abdomen is seldom covered by pruinescence | |
| ➤ the ovipositor extends beyond S10 | ||
| Photographs | • most of our photos below were made in the south of Italy |
