Willow Emerald

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Lestes viridis

Scarce in Eastern England & is now expanding range west & southwards.

They are larger and darker, and they do not have a powder blue pruinescence which is common in other Lestes.

The pterostigma is pale brown and outlined in black.

The thorax has thin yellow antehumeral areas and a broader yellow stripe above a thin black line on each side; the upper edge of the stripe is irregular.

Male – The abdomen is very long.

The lower anal appendages are less than half the length of the upper which are a distinctive pale yellow with black tips.

Female – The ovipositor is longer than in Lestes dryas.

Flies from May-August, sometimes into September.