Plateau Spreadwing
Lestes alacer
This record describes Lestes alacer (species). Recorded family: Lestidae. Recorded order: Odonata.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Lestes alacer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lestes.
Classification
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of species is Hagen, 1861.
About Dragonflies and Damselflies: the wider group
Order-level background for Odonata, the group containing Lestes alacer. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Odonata includes ~6,000 described species of dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies are among the fastest flying insects, reaching 36 mph (58 km/h). They can fly in any direction including backward, and hover in place - each wing operates independently.
Ecological role of the group
Dragonflies predate dinosaurs by nearly 100 million years - fossils date to 325 million years ago. The largest dragonfly ancestor, Meganeuropsis permiana (285 mya), had a 75cm wingspan, enabled by atmospheric oxygen levels of 31-35% compared to today's 21%. Dragonflies have a 95% hunting success rate - the highest of any predator.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Dragonflies are voracious predators that consume hundreds of mosquitoes daily, providing natural pest control worth millions in reduced mosquito-borne disease risk. A single dragonfly can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day.
Recorded sources for this group: Natural History Museum London, Britannica, fossil record research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Plateau Spreadwing (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Joshua Stuart Rose , Ted Kropiewnicki