| Lestes | |
|---|---|
| |
| female Lestes sponsa | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Lestidae |
| Genus: | Lestes Leach, 1815[1] |
Lestes is a genus of damselfly in the family Lestidae.[2] The family hold their wings at about 45 degrees to the body when resting. This distinguishes them from most other species of damselflies which hold the wings along, and parallel to, the body when at rest.
The name Lestes comes from the Greek word λῃστής (lēistēs) meaning predator.[3]
- ^ Leach, W.E. (1815). "Entomology". In Brewster, D. (ed.). The Edinburgh Encyclopedia. Vol. 9 (reprint 1830 ed.). Edinburgh: William Blackburn. pp. 57–172 [137].
- ^ "Genus Lestes Leach, 1815". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ Costantino D’Antonio and Francesca Vegliante. "Derivatio nominis libellularum europæarum" (PDF) (in Italian). Retrieved 3 August 2010.