1a |
a. Proximal side of quadrangle of forewing equal to, or slightly less than, 1/2 the length of the posterior side |
Archilestes grandis (Rambur) |
b. Pterostigma longer than 3.0 mm |
c. Vein M2 usually arising about one cell beyond the nodus |
1b |
a. Proximal side of quadrangle of forewing equal to, or less than, 1/3 the length of the posterior side |
Lestes, 2 |
b. Pterostigma longer than 2.8 mm |
c. Vein M2 usually arising more than 2 cells beyond the nodus |
|
2a(1b) |
Males
|
3 |
2b |
Females |
11 |
|
3a(2a) |
Paraprocts not more than 1/2 as long as the cerci |
4 |
3b |
Paraprocts distinctly greater than 1/2 the length of the cerci |
5 |
|
4a(3a) |
a. Wings flavescent |
Lestes eurinus Say |
b. Cerci with a serrated prominence near the middle of the inner margin |
4b |
a. Wings hyaline, or only slightly tinted in older specimens |
Lestes congener Hagen |
b. Cerci without a serrated prominence near the middle of the inner margin |
|
5a(3b) |
Paraprocts longer than the cerci |
Lestes inaequalis Walsh |
5b |
Paraprocts shorter than the cerci, at most reaching their tips |
6 |
|
6a(5b) |
Paraprocts sigmoid in shape, and slender, with apexes divergent |
Lestes unguiculatus Hagen |
also: Cerci with basal tooth very narrow and acute, and with the sital tooth very small, often indistinct, located approximately 2/3 the distance from the base to the apex of the appendage, and separated from the basal tooth by a medially concave, strongly serrated ridge; rear of head black; mesepisterna each with the black or brown stripe contiguous with the middorsal carina |
6b |
Paraprocts not sigmoid, apexes not divergent |
7 |
|
7a(6b) |
Paraprocts broadened, in dorsal view appearing somewhat boot-shaped |
Lestes dryas Kirby |
also: Dorsum of thorax metallic green |
7b |
Paraprocts not expanded at the tips, the sides parallel and, in dorsal view, not noticeably boot-shaped |
8 |
|
8a(7b) |
Cercus with a distinct basal tooth only, usually followed by a more or less serrated margin |
Lestes vigilax Hagen |
also: Dorsum of thorax usually with a wide metallic green stripe, sometimes black, contiguous with the middorsal carinaalso: Rear of head black; paraprocts at least 3/4x as long as the cerci; abdominal length at least 37 mm; two partial rows of cells distal to the pterostigma between the costa and R1 |
8b |
Cercus with a distinct distal tooth somewhat resembling a basal tooth in shape |
9 |
|
9a(8a) |
a. Hindwing < 2/3 the length of the abdomen |
Lestes rectangularis Say |
b. Paraprocts curving sharply downward in apical third |
9b |
a. Hindwing approximately 2/3 the length of the abdomen |
10 |
b. Paraprocts not curving downward (unless due to postmortem distortion) |
also:Tips of paraprocts extending beyond the distal tooth of the cerci; Ab2 about 1/2 as long as Ab3; Labrum pale bluish |
|
10a(9b) |
a. Ab2 about 1/2 as long as Ab3
|
Lestes disjunctus Selys |
b. Swelling at the base of basal tooth of the cerci relatively distant from the tooth, and forming terminus of low ridge extending laterally and posteriorly to beyond level of the apex of the tooth |
c. White, shield-shaped membranous area on the vesicle of the penis widest at, or posterior to, its midlength |
d. Distal tooth of the cerci variable, often about as large as the basal tooth |
10a(9b) |
a. Ab2 usually about 3/5 as long as Ab3 |
Lestes forcipatus Rambur |
b. Swelling at the base of basal tooth of the cerci relatively close to the tooth, and not forming a part of the such a ridge |
c. White, shield-shaped membranous area on the vesicle of the penis widest at, or very close to, the front margin |
d. Distal tooth of the cerci always distinctly smaller than the basal tooth |
|
11a(1b) |
Ovipositor distinctly longer than Ab7, the tips of the valves reaching as far back as the extreme ends of the paraprocts |
12 |
11b |
Ovipositor usually shorther than Ab7 (except nearly equal in most unguiculatus), the valves not extending to the ends of the paraprocts |
13 |
|
12a(11a) |
a. Dorsum of thorax almost entirely metallic green
|
Lestes dryas Kirby |
b. Thorax usually without a dark spot above the metapleural carina |
c. Rear of head black |
12a(11a) |
a. Dorsum of thorax mostly brown or black, never green |
Lestes forcipatus Rambur |
b. A dark thoracic spot usually present above the metapleural carina, although it may be small |
c. Rear of head usually black below and pale above |
|
13a(11b) |
a. Wings flavescent
|
Lestes eurinus Say |
b. Posterolateral margins of basal plate of the ovipositor rounded |
also: Dark mark above the matepleural carina large and elongate, often confluent with the dark stripe on the metapleural suture; pterostigma surmounting 3-4 cells; large species |
13b |
a. Wings hyaline or at most slightly tinged brownish |
14 |
b. Posterolateral margins of basal plate of the ovipositor angulate, the angle generally produced into an acute process |
|
14a(13b) |
Ab7 distinctly less than 2x as long as the ovipositor
|
15 |
14b |
Ab7 about or more than 2x as long as the ovipositor |
17 |
|
15a(14a) |
a. Dorsum of thorax and abdomen dark brown, with a dull metallic luster
|
Lestes congener Hagen |
b. Humeral stripe pale yellowish, linear |
c. Dark spot present above and below the metapleural carina |
15b |
a. Dorsum of thorax and abdomen paler bronze-brown |
16 |
b. Pale, dull yellow humeral stripe 1/3-1/2 as broad as the dark area on each side of the median carina |
c. Dark spot absent above and below the metapleural carina |
|
16a(15b) |
a. Ab7 at least 1.5x as long as the ovipositor, excluding the styli
|
Lestes disjunctus Selys |
b. Dark areas of abdomen bronze to black |
also: Rear of head black except around the neck |
16a(15b) |
a. Ab7 less than 1.5x as long as the ovipositor, excluding the styli |
Lestes unguiculatus Hagen |
b. Dark areas of abdomen usually greenish |
also: Rear of head with pale areas distinct above, and usually reaching the compound eye |
|
17a(14b) |
a. Dorsum of thorax dark brown, scarcely metallic
|
Lestes rectangularis Say |
b. Median carina and humeral stripes grey, the latter more than half as wide as the dark mesepisternal area |
c. Extensor surfaces of tibiae pale yellow |
also: Outer surfaces of meso- and metatibiae, and the basal half of the corresponding tarsi always pale; wing tips with few doubled cells in marginal row, none between the distal end of the pterostigma and the end of vein R1; lateral stripe of mesepisternum blue-grey to yellow; postnodal crossveins usually no more than 12 |
17b |
a. Dorsum of thorax metallic green |
18 |
b. Median carina and humeral stripes reddish or yellowish |
c. Extensor surfaces of tibiae yellow or dark brown |
|
18a(17b) |
a. Reddish brown humeral stripe 1/3 or more wide as the metallic area on each side of the median carina
|
Lestes vigilax Hagen |
b. Tibiae dark brown |
18b |
a. Yellowish humeral strip less than 1/4 as wide as the metallic area on each side of the median carina |
Lestes inaequalis Walsh |
b. Extensor surfaces of tibiae yellow |
also: Ovipositor with the vental margin nearly straight or convex; basal plate of the ovipositor with the posterolateral margin obtusely angulate |
|