Quite large, slender damselflies with narrow wings. Two subfamilies are distinguished: Lestinae and Sympecmatinae. While most damselflies rest with their wings folded together above their abdomens, members of the subfamily Lestinae usually rest with the wings partially spread away from the body. Most spreadwings have a metallic shine on parts of their body.
The two members of Sympecmatinae are the only European Odonata (of only a handful of species worldwide) that survive sub-zero temperature winters as an adult.
in and around Europe
