Blue feather dragonfly

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue feather dragonfly
Blue feather dragonfly (Platycnemis pennipes), male

Blue feather dragonfly ( Platycnemis pennipes ), male

Systematics
Order : Dragonflies (Odonata)
Subordination : Dragonfly (Zygoptera)
Superfamily : Coenagrionoidea
Family : Feather dragonflies (Platycnemididae)
Genre : Platycnemis
Type : Blue feather dragonfly
Scientific name
Platycnemis pennipes
( Pallas , 1771)
female

The blue feather dragonfly ( Platycnemis pennipes ), formerly also often referred to as the common feather dragonfly , is a species of small dragonfly from the family of feather dragonflies (Platycnemididae).

features

The blue feather dragonfly is 3.5 cm long with a wingspan of 4.5 cm. At first glance, the species is very similar to the common dragonfly (Coenagrionidae). However, in the feathered dragonfly species, the rails ( tibia ) of the hind and middle legs are broadened and covered with herringbone-like thorns, which gives them a feather-like appearance.

Habitat and Distribution

The blue feather dragonfly reproduces in still waters as well as in slow-flowing waters, whereby it reaches the highest density of individuals in running waters with a good population of aquatic plants.

The species is considered a ponto-Caspian fauna element (distribution center in Southeast Europe and West Asia), but has also spread to Central and West Europe in the post-glacial period. It is a type of the deeper, heat-favored locations, which occurs mainly at heights of less than 500 m above sea level. Above 800 m above sea level it can only reproduce in exceptional cases.

Reproduction

When laying eggs, the female with attached male likes to stick the eggs into the flower stalks of the yellow pond rose . The larvae overwinter, the emergence (hatching of the flying insects) takes place in May and June of the following year.

photos

literature

  • A. Martens: Europe's feather dragonflies. Platycnemididae. (= Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei. Volume 626). Spectrum, Heidelberg 1996 / Westarp Sciences, Magdeburg 1996, ISBN 3-89432-458-9 .
  • Klaus Sternberg: Platycnemis pennipes (Pallas, 1771), blue feather dragonfly. P. 452–463 in: Sternberg / Buchwald (Ed.): Die Libellen Baden-Württemberg. Volume 1, Ulmer, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-8001-3508-6 .

Web links

Commons : Blue feather dragonfly ( Platycnemis pennipes )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files