UPDATED CHECKLIST: An Adobe pdf version of the checklist as at December 2018 is available here (click to view/download - approx 10 MB).

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Lestes plagiatus
      Highland Spreadwing
   

View photos in Biodiversity Explorer

Distribution: At Umtamvuna almost to sea level. Elsewhere, mostly 700-1400 m a.s.l. throughout all South Africa, but rare inWestern Cape Province. To East and West Africa.
Body Length: 44-47 mm
Hind Wing Length: 44-47 mm
Habitat: Grassy and bushy borders of dams, pools and sluggish reaches of rivers away from the coast.
Flight Period: November to May
Features: Medium to fairly large, and highly variable in colour, although distinctly striped. Widespread at upland or montane pools, dams and sluggish reaches of rivers where there are margins of tall grass.
Comments: Occurrence in Eswatini confirmed by photos by Kate Braun and Gerhard Diedericks, and by SA damselflies and dragonflies checklist (Durban Natural Science Museum, 2000).

4 records, from 4/24/2015 to 3/23/2019

Information extracted from "Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa" by Michael J Samways, which also includes detailed descriptions of each species.