order
                        
                     
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Adult Beetles”
                                 
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Larval Beetles”
                                 
                                    Diptera
                                       “True Flies”
                                 
                                    Ephemeroptera
                                       “Mayflies”
                                 
                                    Hemiptera
                                       “True Bugs”
                                 
                                    Lepidoptera
                                       “Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
                                 
                                    Megaloptera
                                       “Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
                                 
                                    Odonata
                                       “Dragonflies and Damselflies”
                                 
                                    Plecoptera
                                       “Stoneflies”
                                 
                                    Trichoptera
                                       “Caddisflies”
                                 family
                        
                     Lestidae
               
            genus
                     Lestes
            
                  “Spreadwinged Damselflies”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        17 species in North America.  The unique feature of this genus is the very long and thin labrum.  They are largely confined to lakes, ponds, boggy areas and temporary ponds. 
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Engulfer / Predator
                        
                     MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Climber
Swimmer
                        
                     Swimmer
DISTRIBUTION
                        HABITAT
                        Diagnostic Characters
               Order
                        
                                       
                                       
                                    Abdomen with 5 Sharp Stiff Points or 3 Gills
                                 
                                       
                                       
                                    Labial Mask
                                 
                                       
                                       
                                    Two Pairs of Wing Pads
                                 Family
                        
                                       
                                       
                                    3 Tracheal Gills
                                 
                                       
                                       
                                    Base of Prementum Long and Slender
                                 
                  + Expanded Character List
                  
                     
               
            
                        Order:
                           Nymph with mask-like labium below chewing mouthparts. Wings developing in wing pads. Segmented legs present, each with two claws. 
                     
                     
                        Family:
                           The slender larva has conspicuous terminal gills; the prementum (“lower lip”) is very long and its base is slender, parallel-sided, and at least twice as long as its triangular apex.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Labrum long and thin, 
                     
                  
                  
            Dorsal
               Ventral
               


