Eastern Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes parvidens)
• English name: Eastern Willow Spreadwing
• German name: Östliche Weidenjungfer
• French name: Leste vert oriental
• Dutch name: Oostelijke houtpantserjuffer
• Swedish name: N/A
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: N/A
• Danish name: N/A
• Italian name: Verdina orientale
• Czech name: N/A
• Slovenian name: Presenetljiva pazverca
• Bulgarian name: Сенчесто кротиче
Eastern Willow Spreadwing
(Chalcolestes parvidens)
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 of south-eastern Europe | |
| Classification | • suborder: Zygoptera (damselflies); family: Lestidae | |
| Conservation status | • IUCN Red List Europe: Least Concern | |
| Scientific name | • Chalcolestes parvidens (Artobolevsky, 1929) | |
| Name genus | • Chalcolestes: from Grk. χαλκός = copper, bronze +; λῃστής = robber, thief | |
| Name species | • parvidens: from Lat. parvus, -a, -um = small +; dens = tooth ⇒ for the male's small inner subapical tooth | |
| 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: 44-50 mm; hindwing: 22-26 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 parvidens | ||
| 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 light brown | |
| Male | Abdomen | ➤ the tip and sides of the upper appendages are often (extensively) white, with only the very tip black |
| Female | Abdomen | ➤ the ovipositor bears 6-8 large teeth |
| Photographs | • most of our photos below were made in Tuscany |
LineDrawing: Chalcolestes viridis and C. parvidens: the male's appendages in dorsal view.
