Giant Spreadwing

(Archilestes grandis)

Giant SpreadwingClick to enlarge
Giant SpreadwingClick to enlarge
Giant SpreadwingClick to enlarge

I have been looking for this species in southern Wisconsin for several years, and was surprised to find it at Hardscrabble SNA east of Hazel Green in Lafayette County on September 5, 2005. I had assumed that it was a pond species like the Lestes, and wondered what it was doing here. I finally researched its habitat needs and found that it likes small streams and ditches, which just goes to show that if you want to find a species, you must look in the correct habitat.

I only saw two males, but both were actively feeding in sunny areas along the trail that parallels the creek bed, that did have some water in it. This species had only been found in only three other counties in Wisconsin.