Sweetflag spreadwing
Introduction The '''sweetflag spreadwing''' (''Lestes forcipatus'') is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. It is native to North America, especially eastern parts of Canada and the United States.
Identification This is a medium-sized spreadwing, measuring about 38 to 50 millimeters in length. The male has a dark or black thorax with tan or bluish sides and with pale stripes across the shoulders. The abdomen is dark with a light gray tip. The body is pruinescent, especially in older specimens. The female is thicker in build with a dark to black body. Both sexes may have a light brown spot on the underside of the thorax.This species is difficult to distinguish from the common spreadwing (''L. disjunctus'').
Biology This species lives near ponds, marshes, and slow-running streams.
References
External links *   NatureServe.org: ''Lestes forcipatus'' — ''NatureServe Explorer. Version 7.1.''