Anax parthenope
Anax parthenope (Sélys, 1839)
Local names: Lesser emperor, Kleine Königslibelle, Zuidelijke keizerlibel, Anax napolitain, Mindre kejsartrollslända
Species Information
Description
A large dragonfly with green eyes, contrasting to the thorax which is uniformly brown grey. Abdomen has a thick black line on a base of brown colour, except for a bright blue "saddle" on S2 and S3. A narrow yellow ring on S2 is diagnostic. Wings on older individuals clearly tinted in yellow but not as much as A. ephippiger. Can be distinguished from A. ephippiger by the greener eye color, the shape of the abdominal appendages, the thicker width of the abdomen, the different venation of the wings and in females the presence of occipital tubercles.
Size
Habitat
Occurs in standing, often expansive and sometimes brackish waters. In the Mediterranean areas sometimes occurring in slow-flowing waters. Suitable habitats are largely unshaded and are on average of greater expanse than those of A. imperator, with which the species often co-occur. In many cases a well-developed bank side vegetation and stretches with floating hydrophytes are present but more importantly the center of the water body is nearly always free of vegetation. Many records in temperate Europe are from large lakes, sand quarries and gravel pits. However, it also occurs at lesser habitats such as newly created ponds.
Distribution
The species is common in large areas of western and south-western Europe. Less common in central and eastern Europe. Most records from the British Isles and the Netherlands are of vagrants and reproduction is still very rare in these areas. Reproduction is more common in northern Germany and even more so in Poland, where it is regionally abundant. Populations are expanding north in the warmer climate.
Flight Period
In Mediterranean areas from March to November, farther up north from the end of May to Septemer-October.
Behavior
Lays eggs in tandem, like A. imperator and A. affinis, but none of the other Aeshnidae.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Anax imperator (immature), Anax ephippiger
External Links
Genus: Anax
Anax is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. The name derives from from Ancient Greek ἄναξ anax meaning lord, master or king,
Identification
The Anax species are among the largest dragonflies. Almost all have a uniformly brown or green thorax, and a green, blue or brown abdomen. Anax immaculifrons, being the exception, has broad black thorax bands and a striking black-and-yellow ringed abdomen. The males, and all female aeshnids, lack auricles on S2 as well as anal triangles.
Separation from other genera
Other aeshnids have banded markings on thorax and their abdomen is basically dark with a mosaic of paired coloured spots. The males of these genera have auricles and anal triangles. A. immaculifrons may look like a Cordulegaster in flight,
but has a thicker abdomen.
Separation of the species
Flight identification can be difficult, with most characters overlapping (A. immaculifrons yet again being an exception). The colour of the abdomen, thorax and eyes vary, often with age. Young individuals might have greener body, turning more brown or blue with later age. In hand some important characters are the frons markings, male appendages and presence of occipital tubercles in females.
Anywhere near the Atlantic coast, one should look out for A.junius, an American migratory vagrant, rarely found in Europe but occasionally found far from home.
Behaviour
All species are powerful and fast flyers. Males of most species patrol effortlessly, usually a bit out over larger waterbodies. When resting, for instance during poor weather, they often rest low among waterside vegetation. They do this hanging vertically.
Family: Aeshnidae
The Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies. The family includes the largest dragonflies found in Europe and North America and among the largest dragonflies on the planet.
Description
Common worldwide or nearly worldwide. Genera are Aeshna and Anax. The African Anax tristis has a wingspan over 125 mm, making it one of the world's largest known dragonflies. Most European species belong to Aeshna. Their American name darner stems from the female abdomens looking like a sewing needle, as they cut into plant stem when they lay their eggs.
The dragonflies mate in flight. The eggs are deposited in water or close by. The larvae (nymphs or naiads) are generally slender compared to those of other families, with a long and flat extensible lower lip (labium). The larvae are aquatic predators, feeding on other insects and even small fish.
The adults spend large amounts of time in the air and seem to fly tirelessly. They can fly forwards or backwards or hover like a helicopter. The wings are always extended horizontally.
The abdomen are mostly colored blue and or green, with black and occasionally yellow. The large, hemispherical, compound eyes touch in the midline. Individuals of this family have an extremely good sight, and are voracious insect predators.
A proposal has been made to split this family into Aeshnidae and Telephlebiidae.
The name may have resulted from a printer's error in spelling the Greek Aechma, a spear. The spelling Aeschnidae has been intermittently used over a period of time, but is now abandoned for the original name Aeshnidae. However, derived genus names (such as Rhionaeschna) retain the 'sch' spelling, as this is how they were first cited.