Slender Spreadwings in October

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Slender Spreadwings in October

October 11, 2020 by Mike Powell

I was excited to spot several female Slender Spreadwing damselflies (Lestes rectangularis) during a visit to Huntley Meadows Park this past Thursday. As damselflies go, Slender Spreadwings are quite large, up to 2 inches (51 mm) in length, and are very striking in appearance. Normally spreadwings, as their name indicates, perch with their wings outstretched, though the one in the first photo has its wings mostly closed above its body like a “normal” damselfly—its paler coloration suggests to me that it may have emerged relatively recently.

The middle photo shows well the typical perching style of a spreadwing, with its body held at an angle and several legs grasping a thin stem. The final photo shows a female Slender Spreadwing depositing eggs in the leafy stem of a plant.

I have noted several times my dismay at the winding down of the dragonfly/damselfly season, so it is particularly gratifying for me to spot species like this one that I rarely see.

Posted in Autumn, damselfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Huntley Meadows Park, Lestes rectangularis, Slender Spreadwing, Slender Spreadwing damselfly, Tamron 150-600mm | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on October 11, 2020 at 9:37 am | Reply Dan Antion

I loe the shadows in the bottom photo.
- on October 11, 2020 at 12:51 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. Shadows add an extra visual element to a photo that helps it to stand out. Perfectly even lighting tends to be flat and uninteresting.
on October 11, 2020 at 12:08 pm | Reply Reed Andariese

Very nice Mike! Glad you are still seeing & photographing damselflies!
- on October 11, 2020 at 12:49 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. I will be seeking to photograph them for as long as they are still around. I am having to search a little harder now, but am still having some success.
on October 11, 2020 at 6:07 pm | Reply Wally Jones

This is a really nice series, Mike! I have yet to spot a spreadwing. There are only two species which occur in our area. One day ……
- on October 11, 2020 at 6:58 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Wally. I never know for sure what I will see, but try to keep my eyes open. I was more on the lookout for a Great Spreadwing, but was happy to spot the Slender Spreadwing.
on October 11, 2020 at 7:59 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

End of season treasure!
on October 12, 2020 at 1:27 am | Reply krikitarts

It’s good to see that one of your favorite seasons is still hanging in there for you. Our spring is calling many of my favorite players back to the stage. It all balances out, after all.
- on October 12, 2020 at 8:10 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Indeed, Gary, it all does balance out. One of the cool things about going back to the same places over and over again is that it gives me a sense of the rhythm of the seasons, the order in which species come and go. The timing may vary a bit from year to year, but the sequence stays pretty much the same.
on October 12, 2020 at 5:59 am | Reply mitzybricker

Great captures of this pretty insect, Mike.

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