Part 4: Young male Slender Spreadwings

The Backstory: A cohort of emergent/teneral Slender Spreadwing damselflies (Lestes rectangularis) was discovered during late-May and early-June 2016 at a vernal pool located in Huntley Meadows Park (HMP). I have seen/photographed many female Slender Spreadwings in the past, but only one male. For the next few weeks, I focused upon finding and photographing mostly males from the cohort. Young male Slender Spreadwings dispersed into nearby fields soon after emergence from the vernal pool.

Young Males

Several Slender Spreadwing damselflies were spotted in a meadow located near a vernal pool from which they probably emerged. All of these individuals are young males, as indicated by their coloration and terminal appendages.

31 May 2016

31 MAY 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

31 MAY 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

06 June 2016

06 JUN 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

06 JUN 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

06 JUN 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

06 JUN 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

06 JUN 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

10 June 2016

10 JUN 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

10 JUN 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (young male)

Editor’s Note: This is Part 4 in a five-part series of blog posts documenting a cohort of Slender Spreadwing damselflies that emerged from a single vernal pool at Huntley Meadows Park, presented in reverse-chronological order from mature, reproducing adults to emergent tenerals.

• Part 1: Slender Spreadwing damselflies (mating pair)
• Part 2: Slender Spreadwing (adult male)
• Part 3: More adult male Slender Spreadwings
• Part 5: Teneral male Slender Spreadwings

Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Tags: Family Lestidae (Spreadwings), Huntley Meadows Park, Lestes rectangularis, Slender Spreadwing damselfly, terminal appendages, vernal pool, wildlife photography, young male