Hooded Azure Maiden

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Hooded Azure Maiden
Coenagrion armatum.jpg

Crested Azure Damselfly ( Coenagrion armatum )

Systematics
Subordination : Dragonfly (Zygoptera)
Superfamily : Coenagrionoidea
Family : Dragonfly (Coenagrionidae)
Subfamily : Coenagrioninae
Genre : Azure Maiden ( Coenagrion )
Type : Hooded Azure Maiden
Scientific name
Coenagrion armatum
( Charpentier , 1840)

The crested azure virgin ( Coenagrion armatum ) is a species of dragonfly from the family of the slender dragonflies (Coenagrionidae).

features

The hooded azure maiden reaches body lengths of 36 to 44 millimeters. The males have black and blue markings on the thorax and abdomen segments, with most of the segments being almost completely black. Only the front edges of the 8th and 9th abdomen segments have larger blue parts. There are mainly similarities with the dwarf dragonfly ( Nehalennia speciosa , with green-metallic color components) as well as the garnet eyes ( Erythromma , red eyes) and pitch dragonflies ( Ischnura ). The cerci of the males are strikingly large.

distribution and habitat

The crested azure virgin lives mainly in moors and sedge swamps . Their distribution area is limited to northern Europe including northern Germany.

Way of life

The flight time of these dragonflies falls from May to June. The animals usually fly close above the vegetation and mainly rest on horsetail . Before mating there is a short mating dance and after opening the mating wheel , the animals remain connected in a tandem position to lay their eggs. The female pricks the eggs in aquatic plants without submerging.

Danger

The crested azure virgin is listed as "critically endangered" in the red list (hazard class 1). Due to the disappearance of habitats due to drainage, this species has almost completely disappeared in northern Germany.

literature

  • W. Stichmann, U. Stichmann-Marny, E. Kretzschmar: The great cosmos nature guide - animals and plants , Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co., Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3440094545
  • H. Bellmann: Observe dragonflies - determine , Naturbuch Verlag Augsburg 1993, ISBN 3-894-40522-8
  • G. Jurzitza: The Kosmos Dragonfly Guide , Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH & Co., Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-440-08402-7

Web links

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