Although it is October, my good friend and fellow photographer Walter Sanford continues to discover new species of damselflies in my favorite marshland park. Check out his posting (and his site) for some awesome images of his newest find.
I’m fairly certain I discovered a new species of damselfly at Huntley Meadows Park (HMP): Sweetflag Spreadwing damselfly (Lestes forcipatus).
15 OCT 2015 | HMP | Sweetflag Spreadwing (male)
This individual is a male, as indicated by its hamules and terminal appendages.
15 OCT 2015 | HMP | Sweetflag Spreadwing (male)
(See a full-size version of the preceding photo, without annotation.)
The hamules are key field markers for differentiating some species of similar-looking damselflies, such as Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis) and Sweetflag Spreadwing (Lestes forcipatus).
All male damselflies have four terminal appendages, collectively called “claspers.” Male damselfly terminal appendages don’t look exactly the same for all species of damselflies, but their function is identical.
15 OCT 2015 | HMP | Sweetflag Spreadwing (male)
(See a full-size version of the preceding photo, without annotation.)
Claspers are used to grab and hold female damselflies…
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Mike Powell 
