Lestes dorothea, commonly known as the forest spreadwing, is a damselfly species belonging to the family Lestidae.

Distribution: Lestes dorothea is found in regions spanning from south and northeast India to Thailand and Malaysia. It inhabits well-vegetated ponds and similar habitats.
Description: The male forest spreadwing has an abdomen length of 36 to 40 mm, distinguishing it from the similar-looking species Lestes praemorsus, which has an abdomen length of 32–35 mm. The matured males have deep sapphire-blue eyes, and their thorax is black with pruinosed white laterally and citron-yellow beneath. The dorsum of the thorax is marked with metallic green antehumeral stripes. The wings are hyaline, and the pterostigma is black. The abdomen is blue or greenish-blue with black markings ².
Female Characteristics: Female forest spreadwings have broader and more visible markings on their thorax compared to males. Their anal appendages are small and black. The diffuse black stripes on the humeral suture are more visible in females.
Distinguishing Features: L. dorothea can be distinguished from L. praemorsus by its larger size, absence of markings on segments 8 and 9 in males, diffuse black stripes on the humeral suture, and higher postnodal index.