Small Emerald Damselfly

Appearance

''L. virens'' looks very similar to the other members of the ''Lestes''. It has a metallic green body and at rest holds its wings away from its body. ''L. virens'' is smaller than ''L. sponsa''. It has a pale brown pterostigma edged laterally with white and its anal appendages are pale coloured/yellowish. ''L. sponsa'' and ''L. dryas'' both have black anal appendages.

There are two sub-species ''L. v. virens'' and ''L. v. vestalis''. In ''L. v. virens'' the yellow line which runs along the humeral suture is unbroken and almost reaches the base of the forwing whereas in ''L. v. vestalis'' the yellow line is reduced and broken and does not reach the forewing. ''L. v. virens'' is found in the south of its range and ''L. v. vestalis'' is found in the north. The separation of ''L. virens'' into two subspecies has been called into question by Askew

Distribution

''L. virens'' is found in most of southern and central Europe and also North Africa. The sub-species ''L. v. virens'' is found in the south of the range in Spain, southern France, Sardinia and North Africa. ''L. v. vestalis'' is found in the north in northern France, Italy, and across central Europe. It is not found in northern Europe or in the UK.

Behavior

Flight period is from June to September but can be from April in the south of its range. ''L. virens'' like dense vegetation on the edge of ponds where they feed, mate and lay eggs. ''L. virens'' is a univoltine species. After mating the female lays its eggs above water on plant stems, the eggs go through a period of rapid development and then enter diapause. They overwinter as developed eggs and then the larvae hatch out in spring. The larvae develop very quickly.

Habitat

It is a damselfly of still waters and is found in lakes, ponds, ditches and bogs. It is found in well vegetated locations.