Cover photo by Marita Beneke.
Find the Cryptic Spreadwing in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.
Family Lestidae
Identification
Mabusa Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga
Photo by Niall Perrins
Small size
Length up to 42mm; Wingspan reaches 50mm
The Cryptic Spreadwing is similar to Lestes tridens (Spotted Spreadwing), but differs in the structure of the claspers and the amount of pruinose blue on segments 9 and 10 on the abdomen. Lestes dissimulans also has plain or indistinct markings on the top of the thorax. Lestes tridens shows a bolder and more distinctive marking on the upper thorax.
Females of the two are very similar and best separated by their association with the males.
Click here for more details on identification.
Habitat
The Cryptic Spreadwing frequents both perennial and seasonal still-water habitats. It prefers shallow areas of pans, dams, and ponds with tall emergent or flooded grass. The Cryptic Spreadwing inhabits hot savanna regions.
Behaviour
The Cryptic Spreadwing is a fairly inactive species that spends long periods hanging vertically from emergent grass stems. The females are frequently seen alongside the males. Cryptic Spreadwings are well camouflaged and easily overlooked. Their blue-grey colouration and slender bodies blend perfectly with the grass and glare from the water.
The Cryptic Spreadwing is most active from October to March (See Phenology below).
Status and Conservation
Lestes dissimulans is an uncommon and highly localised species in South Africa. It is listed locally as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The species is listed as of Least Concern for Africa in general due to its relatively wide distribution. The Cryptic Spreadwing is not very tolerant of habitat degradation and is mostly found in pristine habitats.
Distribution
Lestes dissimulans occurs from the far North of KwaZulu-Natal to Limpopo in South Africa, and then widely across southern, eastern, central, and western Africa.
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Cryptic Spreadwing in the OdonataMAP database as at February 2020.
Below is a map showing the distribution of records for Cryptic Spreadwing in the OdonataMAP database as of December 2024.
The next map below is an imputed map, produced by an interpolation algorithm, which attempts to generate a full distribution map from the partial information in the map above. This map will be improved by the submission of records to the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum.
Ultimately, we will produce a series of maps for all the odonata species in the region. The current algorithm is a new algorithm. The objective is mainly to produce “smoothed” maps that could go into a field guide for odonata. This basic version of the algorithm (as mapped above) does not make use of “explanatory variables” (e.g. altitude, terrain roughness, presence of freshwater — we will be producing maps that take these variables into account soon). Currently, it only makes use of the OdonataMAP records for the species being mapped, as well as all the other records of all other species. The basic maps are “optimistic” and will generally show ranges to be larger than what they probably are.
These maps use the data in the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum, and also the database assembled by the previous JRS funded project, which was led by Professor Michael Samways and Dr KD Dijkstra.
Phenology
Further Resources
The use of photographs by Marita Beneke and Niall Perrins is acknowledged.
Cryptic Spreadwing Lestes dissimulans Fraser, 1955
Other common names: Kriptiese Spanvlerkie (Afrikaans)
Recommended citation format: Loftie-Eaton M; Navarro R; Tippett RM; Underhill L. 2025. Cryptic Spreadwing Lestes dissimulans. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2020/02/27/cryptic-spreadwing-lestes-dissimulans/
References: Tarboton, M; Tarboton, W. (2019). A Guide to the Dragonflies & Damselflies of South Africa. Struik Nature.
Samways, MJ. (2008). Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa. Pensoft
Samways, MJ. (2016). Manual of Freshwater Assessment for South Africa: Dragonfly Biotic Index. Suricata 2. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
Martens, A; Suhling, F. (2007). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Namibia. Gamsberg Macmillan.
