Classification of the Lestidae
Dijkstra and Kalkman (2012) produced a phylogeny or classification of the Lestidae which I summarise here.
The family (Lestidae) consists of around 150 species which all inhabit stagnant and often temporary waters. In Europe we have only 9 species in 3 genera classified as follows:
Sympecma - Brown rather dull species (2 species). These are winter damsels that overwinter as adults. The brown colouring helps to conceal them during the winter months.
Chalcolestes - Large green species (2 species) with no blue pruinosity. The adults diapause and usually in woody vegetation over water.
Lestes - the genus falls into two groups:
Dijkstra and Kalkman (2012) produced a phylogeny or classification of the Lestidae which I summarise here.
The family (Lestidae) consists of around 150 species which all inhabit stagnant and often temporary waters. In Europe we have only 9 species in 3 genera classified as follows:
Sympecma - Brown rather dull species (2 species). These are winter damsels that overwinter as adults. The brown colouring helps to conceal them during the winter months.
Chalcolestes - Large green species (2 species) with no blue pruinosity. The adults diapause and usually in woody vegetation over water.
Lestes - the genus falls into two groups:
- Northern Lestes - L. dryas and L. sponsa very similar in appearance with extensive blue pruinosity on males
- Southern Lestes - L. barbarus, L. virens and L. macrostigma with variable amounts of blue pruinosity