Lestes sponsa (Hansemann 1823)
L. sponsa is a locally common and widespread species found throughout Europe and eastwards to Japan. It is far less common in the south of Europe and has only been recorded in Spain in recent years possibly as a result of confusion with its cogener L. dryas with which it occurs.
L. sponsa is a locally common and widespread species found throughout Europe and eastwards to Japan. It is far less common in the south of Europe and has only been recorded in Spain in recent years possibly as a result of confusion with its cogener L. dryas with which it occurs.
Life History
This is the only European Lestid to occur commonly at permanent water bodies. This is always the case in northern Europe; however, in Spain, where this species has only recently been discovered, it inhabits seasonal wetlands often with L. dryas. It generally emerges in early June usually a couple of weeks after L. dryas. In contrast to the latter it has a much longer adult life and can be found as late as October. It survives in permanent waters but only those acid heathy ponds and lakes where fish are absent. For this reason although this is the most common and widespread lestid in northern Europe it is always local although abundant when found. The illustration shows a pair with normal green female.
Because it inhabits permanent water L. sponsa often oviposits (in tandem) underwater. The pairs slowly descending until both dissappear below the surface where they remain for many minutes.
You will note that I have not included a life history chart; this may be the commonest northern European lestid but I am not sure that we fully understand its life. This species often oviposits under water, so do the eggs hatch then, does it have a long larval life? Contrarily in Spain it behaves much like L. dryas and lays in dried out habitats.
This is the only European Lestid to occur commonly at permanent water bodies. This is always the case in northern Europe; however, in Spain, where this species has only recently been discovered, it inhabits seasonal wetlands often with L. dryas. It generally emerges in early June usually a couple of weeks after L. dryas. In contrast to the latter it has a much longer adult life and can be found as late as October. It survives in permanent waters but only those acid heathy ponds and lakes where fish are absent. For this reason although this is the most common and widespread lestid in northern Europe it is always local although abundant when found. The illustration shows a pair with normal green female.
Because it inhabits permanent water L. sponsa often oviposits (in tandem) underwater. The pairs slowly descending until both dissappear below the surface where they remain for many minutes.
You will note that I have not included a life history chart; this may be the commonest northern European lestid but I am not sure that we fully understand its life. This species often oviposits under water, so do the eggs hatch then, does it have a long larval life? Contrarily in Spain it behaves much like L. dryas and lays in dried out habitats.
The Androchrome female
In some families, there are cases where females take on the colouring of the male known as androchrome. In the case of Lestids this occurs to varying degrees. In most species the feature relates only to eye colour: in both northern Lestids the females occasionally have blue eyes. However in L. sponsa fully male coloured females occur. This form is extremely rare in UK and Northern Europe but becomes more common in the east and south. In Japan there are regions where all females are the androchrome form; it is also fairly common in Spain, which is where this picture was taken.
I do not think that there has ever been a satisfactory explanation as to why such forms exist.
In some families, there are cases where females take on the colouring of the male known as androchrome. In the case of Lestids this occurs to varying degrees. In most species the feature relates only to eye colour: in both northern Lestids the females occasionally have blue eyes. However in L. sponsa fully male coloured females occur. This form is extremely rare in UK and Northern Europe but becomes more common in the east and south. In Japan there are regions where all females are the androchrome form; it is also fairly common in Spain, which is where this picture was taken.
I do not think that there has ever been a satisfactory explanation as to why such forms exist.
L.sponsa is found throughout the UK but it is much commoner in the north and west in heathy and moorland areas. Here in Sussex colonies are far apart. This one is a superb pond black with peat and with rush (Juncus spp) vegetation; it hosts a fine population.
Back in September 2007, I was visiting and made the following observation.
Back in September 2007, I was visiting and made the following observation.
At 15:34 I found this threesome. The female was ovipositing and moving down the stem (left picture). By 15:36 The copulating male was almost submerged.
By 15:37 All three had disappeared below the surface. Just a few minutes later by 15:42 all three had reappeared and were drying themselves. Exactly what the top had got out this adventure is hard to fathom.