Highland Spreadwing

Lestes plagiatus · Order: Odonata · Family: Lestidae

Also called: Common Spreadwing, Highland Emerald Damsel

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Highland Spreadwing
Photo: Alandmanson, CC BY-SA 3.0

The common spreadwing damselfly, Lestes plagiatus, belongs to the spreadwing family Lestidae. It lives near pools, swamps and streams across much of southern Africa.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

Lestes plagiatus is a spreadwing damselfly in the family Lestidae.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

It is found near pools, swamps and streams.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

The species is native to the southern half of Africa and is widespread there.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

Highland Spreadwing photo 2
Photo: Alandmanson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Highland Spreadwing photo 3
Photo: Dwergenpaartje, CC BY-SA
Highland Spreadwing photo 4
Photo: Alandmanson, CC BY
Highland Spreadwing photo 5
Photo: Dwergenpaartje, CC BY-SA

Questions people ask

Where does the common spreadwing live?

It lives near pools, swamps and streams in southern Africa.

Source: Wikipedia

What family does Lestes plagiatus belong to?

It belongs to the damselfly family Lestidae, the spreadwings.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Lestidae)

Western Willow SpreadwingWestern Willow SpreadwingChalcolestes viridisSlender SpreadwingSlender SpreadwingLestes rectangularisCommon Winter DamselflyCommon Winter DamselflySympecma fuscaCommon SpreadwingCommon SpreadwingLestes sponsaGreat SpreadwingGreat SpreadwingArchilestes grandisSpotted SpreadwingSpotted SpreadwingLestes congener

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lestes_plagiatus

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.

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