Back
May 30, 2023 — Dane County

Grass Lake Wildlife Area - Parking off Sandhill Road (incomplete survey record)

Swamp Spreadwing (Lestes vigilax)
Netted and released
Tentatively submitting this female as Swamp Spreadwing, but not certain of ID due to immaturity. The ovipositor is the main feature that makes us think Swamp instead of an Elegant (which we observed the next day at the same site). The basal plate looks more pointed with a slight tooth vs angular and squared off. The ovipositor valves seem a little shorter (as mentioned in Paulson) and have a pale edge vs longer and a dark edge. All of the Elegant females caught and netted the second day had angular basal plates with squared off shapes that were more immediately obvious compared to this individual.
Photo of Swamp Spreadwing
Photo of Swamp Spreadwing
Photo of Swamp Spreadwing
Photo of Swamp Spreadwing