Part 5: Teneral 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.

Teneral Males

Several Slender Spreadwing damselflies were spotted perching on vegetation in a vernal pool from which they probably emerged. All of these individuals are teneral males, as indicated by their coloration, terminal appendages, and the position of their wings. Notice all four wings are still folded above the body — a field marker indicating these spreadwing males emerged recently.

31 May 2016

31 May 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (teneral male)

31 May 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (teneral male)

06 June 2016

06 June 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (teneral male)

06 June 2016 | HMP | Slender Spreadwing (teneral male)

Editor’s Note: This is Part 5 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 4: Young male Slender Spreadwings

Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

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