Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Beneficial Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Sweetflag spreadwing

Sweetflag spreadwing

Lestes forcipatus

A species of Pond spreadwings

The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1842 by Rambur.

General Info About Sweetflag spreadwing
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Sweetflag spreadwing
Colors
Black
Cyan
Habitat
forest; wetland
Adult Food Sources
Flying insects, mosquitoes, flies, moths, mayflies
Larva Food Source
Aquatic invertebrates, small fish, tadpoles, mosquito larvae, water fleas
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
Not reported
Predatory
The Sweetflag spreadwing typically preys on other arthropods and does not directly affect plants.
Biting animal or pet
Yes
Mouthparts Type
Chewing mouthparts
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of Sweetflag spreadwing
It is native to North America, especially eastern parts of Canada and the United States.
Rectangle
Distribution Area of Sweetflag spreadwing
North America, Canada, United States
Rectangle
Life Cycle of Sweetflag spreadwing
Egg The sweetflag spreadwing begins as an egg, usually laid in or near water. The eggs are small and may exhibit protective coloration or structures.
Naiad Hatching as a naiad, the sweetflag spreadwing resembles a smaller adult without fully developed wings. The aquatic naiads undergo several molts, growing larger and developing wing pads.
Adult Emerging from the last molt, the adult sweetflag spreadwing has fully formed wings and a slender abdomen for mating and flight. Colors are vibrant, and the creatures are now aerial predators.
Rectangle
Predators of Adult Sweetflag spreadwing
Birds, spiders, frogs, wasps, mantises
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Sweetflag spreadwing
Sweetflag spreadwing can regulate its body temperature by changing its body alignment relative to the sun, a phenomenon called 'obelisking'.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Sweetflag spreadwing
Tips for Finding Sweetflag spreadwing
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of Sweetflag spreadwing
Freshwater Habitats
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of Sweetflag spreadwing
Forests and Woodlands, Freshwater Habitats, Grasslands and Prairies, Savannas, Mangroves and Coastal Wetlands
Rectangle
Habitat Preferences of Sweetflag spreadwing Through Different Life Stages
The damselfly sweetflag spreadwing undergoes incomplete metamorphosis with aquatic naiads and terrestrial adults. naiads thrive in still or slow-moving freshwater habitats, such as ponds, marshes, or the calm edges of streams, where they cling to submerged vegetation and hunt small aquatic organisms. To find them, carefully inspect the underwater plants, turning over leaves and examining stems. Adults are typically found in similar wetland areas, but with a preference for the vegetation at the water’s edge or nearby meadows where they can hunt for prey and mate. To locate adult sweetflag spreadwing, you should explore these areas on a warm, sunny day when they are most active, looking for their characteristic fluttering flight among tall grasses and reeds.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Sweetflag spreadwing at Different Life Stages
Egg Eggs of sweetflag spreadwing are often laid on aquatic plants or in water. To find them, carefully inspect the stems and leaves of pond vegetation, especially near the water's surface.
Naiad Naiad sweetflag spreadwing are aquatic and can be found in calm water bodies such as ponds or slow-moving streams. Look for them by gently sifting through submerged vegetation or by using a fine-mesh net to scoop the sediment.
Adult During emergence, sweetflag spreadwing transition from naiads to adults. This occurs at the water's edge, on plants or other vertical surfaces. Find emergent individuals by checking these areas in the early morning, which is their favored time for metamorphosis.
Adult sweetflag spreadwing are aerial and often found near water sources such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. Spotting them involves looking for resting individuals on vegetation or observing them in flight around water. A quiet approach and patience are necessary, as they can be skittish and quick to fly away.
Are Sweetflag spreadwing harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free
Beneficial Effects of Sweetflag spreadwing
Discover the hidden benefits of insects
Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
Download the App for Free
Predators of Pests
Predators of Pests
Purpose
Feed Itself
Diets
Mosquitoes, Larval Aquatic Insect
Sweetflag spreadwing is a voracious predator both in its naiad and adult stages. In the naiad stage, it ambushes its prey under water. As an adult, sweetflag spreadwing captures mosquitoes and other small winged insects during its flight. The hunt sustains its energy needs and is crucial for its survival.
Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
More Insects that are Similar to Sweetflag spreadwing
Plateau spreadwing
Plateau spreadwing

The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1861 by Hagen.

Read More
Arrow
Swamp spreadwing
Swamp spreadwing

It grows between 4 cm and 6 cm long.

Read More
Arrow
Amber-winged spreadwing
Amber-winged spreadwing

The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1840 by Say.

Read More
Arrow
Slender spreadwing
Slender spreadwing

This damselfly is long and thin. The body is black with a pale blue face, and the wings have yellow edges. The female is larger, with paler yellow on the wings.

Read More
Arrow
Southern spreadwing
Southern spreadwing

The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1952 by Walker.

Read More
Arrow
Emerald spreadwing
Emerald spreadwing

The Shining Bulgarian reaches a wing span of about five centimeters. It has a metallic-green-colored thorax and a shiny black-green abdomen, which is thickened at the end and blue frosted in sexually mature male. In old age, the dark parts of the body become coppery and duller. The wing times are monochrome blackish. The species can easily be confused with the much more common Common Reindeer (Lestes sponsa). Surely, both can only be distinguished by examining the inner abdomen appendages in males or the laying tail in females with a magnifying glass. Also, in the male the second abdominal ring (2nd segment behind the wing lug) is not completely frosted blue. In a direct comparison, Lestes Dryas looks a bit stronger and shinier.

Read More
Arrow
Northern spreadwing
Northern spreadwing

The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1862 by Selys.

Read More
Arrow
Spotted spreadwing
Spotted spreadwing

The spotted spreadwing (Lestes congener) is a small grey damselfly with transparent wings and blue eyes, making them striking and beautiful insects. Females have brown eyes. Given that they are damselflies, they tend to hang about slow-moving water patches. These are typically anything from ponds to marshes.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow