Lestes congener
Lestes congener
Lestes congener is a dragonfly of the genus bins Virgin (Lestes ), which is common in North America.
Features
Male Lestes congener reach a body length from 35 to 42 millimeters, the females remain slightly smaller with 32 to 38 millimeters. In the western part of its range, the dragonflies are somewhat larger than in the east. The body of the male is bronze to black with yellowish spots, the last two segments of the abdomen are gray. The females are slightly paler and the abdomen is reddish brown. The wings are clear and transparent and longer in females than in males.
The larvae are up to 25 millimeters long and are light brown.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Lestes congener is located in North America in the United States and Canada. It extends from southern Ontario and New Jersey west to California and north to British Columbia. They mainly live on the banks of permanent or temporary water-filled ponds and flooded river banks.
Way of life
The adult dragonflies feed on small flying insects such as aphids. The larvae hunt small underwater insects and their larvae. The females pierce their eggs in the fall individually into plant stems above the water level or in autumn leaves and other plant debris. The eggs were resistant to drought as against frost. The larvae hatch when the plants fall over in the winter and come into contact with water. The flight time of the Imagines extends from late July to mid-September.
System
Lestes congener is one of 83 currently known species of bins Virgin (Lestes ) dar. first described scientifically they were from the German - American entomologist Hermann August Hagen in 1861.