General: Spotted Spreadwing Damselflies (Lestes congener) are large damselflies that hold their wings spread out to the side rather than down along the body as in most damselflies. In this species, the top of the thorax is black with a blue stripe, and the bottom of the thorax is blue with one or two black spots.
These active creatures are harmless to humans, but they are voracious predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes. There are some good places for Watching Damselflies Around Las Vegas.
Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Zygoptera, Family Lestidae.
Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, Spotted Spreadwings are uncommon. I've only seen this species during fall at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. |