Northern Spreadwing
(Lestes disjunctus)
Click to enlargemale-like female
The Northern Spreadwing is supposed to be difficult to distinguish from the Sweetflag Spreadwing, but in the field this species is more likely to be confused with the Slender Spreadwing because of the similar thorax coloration and stripes. In fact, I did confuse these myself several times as I learned their differences, and I believe that there are several photos online of the Common Spreadwing that are actually Slender Spreadwings. Sometimes the abdomen of the Common Spreadwing is very greenish like the Lyre-tipped Spreadwings and these two species could get confused. The 8th segment of the Northern may show no bluish color or just slightly on the bottom as in the photo on the bottom right, while the Lyre-tipped has a V-shaped area on the top of the 8th segment In general the Sweetflag rarely has greenish/blue stripes and is much more pruiescent in the thorax. It is by far easier to distinguish between these two species by noticing the female and comparing the size of their ovipositors. The ovipositor of the Sweetflag extends beyond all other abdominal parts of the Sweetflag while the ovipositor of the Common Spreadwing does not. (Note: I have yet to see the Southern Spreadwing and since I am not familiar with the Southern I may have to revise some of the statements above.)
On August 4, 2005 I took the top photo of a male-like female. I believe that it is this species, but it is the first time that I had ever seen any male-like female Lestes. Interestedly, in looking to see if this is more common than I think, I found out that male-like female Lestes are found occasionally in the west, especially in L. forcipatus, but rarely in the east. In addition, in the west, L. disjunctus males are pruinose also on segment eight, while here they are only pruinose on segments 9 and 10.