Ceriagrion tenellum
Ceriagrion tenellum (De Villers, 1789)
Local names: Small red damselfly, Zarte Rubinjungfer, Scharlachlibelle, Späte Adonislibelle, Koraaljuffer
Species Information
Description
Species is characterised by red abdomen, eyes, legs and pterostigma. At most, legs and pterostigma might be reddish or yellowish, not black. The females have different colouration: abdomen partly black (form typica), totally black (form melanogastrum) or totally red (form erythrogastrum). It might be confused with C. georgifreyi wich is practically identical in general appearance, colouration and pattern.
Size
Habitat
In the south of its range, C. tenellum is mainly found at seepages, streams, small rivers and standing waters with a rich aquatic vegetation. Further north, in the west and east of France, northern Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain, the species is mainly found in acidic Sphagnum peat bogs and heaths. In this area, it has proliferated since 2000 and is now increasingly found in other types of habitats such as small streams.
Many of the micro-habitats where the larvae are found have the following factors in common: the water temperature can rise quickly in summer and teh dense vegetation, the acidity and/or a low water table limit predation by other dragonflies or fish. The species mainly occurs at lower altitudes and is not found above 1000 m.
Distribution
Widespread in the western Mediterranean basin, the range spreading into north-west Europe . To the north it reaches the south of Great Britain, the Netherlands and northern Germany. It is widespread in Italy but becomes rare east of the Adriatic sea in the western balkan. Occurence on mainland Greece and Lesbos is uncertain (published records may have been C. georgifreyi). It is found with certainty on Crete and Ios.
Flight Period
May to September.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Ceriagrion georgifreyi, Pyrrhosoma nymphula
External Links
Genus: Ceriagrion
Ceriagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Species of Ceriagrion are small to medium size, generally brightly coloured damselflies. They are found across the Old World, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Identification
Ceriagrion are the only damselflies with a combination of reddish legs and pterostigma, no postocular spots and, usually, a reddish abdomen. Females sometimes have a completely black abdomen. Antehumeral stripes are yellow, thin or even absent. A diagnostic sharp ridge transverses the face in front of the antennae.
Separation from other genera
Other damselflies with red colouration with or without postocular spots have black on the legs. This includes the Pyrrhosoma species, which are more robust, have black pterostigmas and different markings on thorax and abdomen. Black Ceriagrion females are most likely to be confused with other small damselflies. However they never have black-marked legs.
Behaviour
Ceriagrion are weak fliers and stay low in the vegetation. Most often in close proximity to the water's edge. Males interact aggressively, but do not have clear territories. Males and females oviposit in tandem.
Family: Coenagrionidae
The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making it the largest damselfly family. The family Coenagrionidae has six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.
This family is referred to as the narrow-winged damselflies or the pond damselflies. The Coenagrionidae enjoy a worldwide distribution, and are among the most common of damselfly families. This family has the smallest of damselfly species. More than 110 genera of the family Coenagrionidae are currently accepted.
The family was named by William Forsell Kirby in 1890. The name may be derived from Greek coen meaning shared or common and agrio meaning fields or wild.