Obvodna zverca (Lestes sponsa) is a medium-sized representative of the damselfly genus. The adult is usually 35 to 39 mm long, and its wingspan measures about 4 cm. A characteristic of damselflies of this genus is that when at rest they hold their wings slightly spread.
The male of the Obvodna zverca has a dark green body with a metallic sheen, blending into copper tones. Its eyes are blue. The first (toward the thorax) and the last abdominal segments are covered by a pale blue waxy band – the second abdominal segment (toward the thorax) is entirely pale blue (the band on the male of Lestes dryas covers only the front two-thirds of this segment). Close observation of the appendages at the end of the abdomen reveals that the lower (smaller) appendages of the male Obvodna zverca are long, straight and tapering at the end.
The female, viewed from above, is entirely metallic dark green, from the side and below it is dirty white. Her eyes are brown. It differs from the seemingly very similar Lestes dryas by its shorter appendage (at the end of the abdomen), which does not extend beyond the end of the last segment.
Obvodna zverca is one of the most common damselflies in Europe and also in Slovenia. It prefers overgrown shallow parts of ponds and lakes, somewhat less commonly living in pools and ponds, and it avoids running waters. In fact, you will find it at almost every still body of water overgrown with reeds or similar aquatic vegetation.
Adults may begin to emerge as early as mid-May, and then continue flying until mid-October.
