Lestes viridis (Willow Emerald Damselfly)

The delightful curiosity that lays its eggs in live branches overhanging water. Relatively large, though the males look quite delicate, they have a habit of hanging around in trees a lot. There’s a good population of them at our favourite southern French campsite.

Id Notes

• head, thorax and abdomen metallic green
• large, pale pterostigma
• prominent green sharp, spur-mark pointing forwards on side of thorax
• ♂ – does not develop any pruinosity (cf. other Lestes)
• ♀ – ovipositor dark but with a pale (whitish) lower border

male			female

pair in tandem	pair ovipositing