Gomphus simillimus
Gomphus simillimus Selys, 1840
Local names: Yellow clubtail, Gelbe Keiljungfer, Gele rombout, Gomphe semblable
Species Information
Description
A bright yellow clubtail with black markings. It can be recognised from the others in the same genus, by the antehumeral stripes which are narrower or as wide as the adjacent black lines. On the thorax, the metapleural line is forked, unlike Stylurus flavipes. All segments of the upper side of the abdomen are crossed by a yellow line that in males widens at S8-S9. The legs are black with yellow lines on the tibiae and femura. Eyes are, as on all gomphids, wide apart and are blue or greenish.
G. simillimus is very average in size, shape and colour. Co-occuring Gomphus species are excluded as follows;
- G. vulgatissimus lacks yellow lines on legs and central line on S8-S9. Mature males are greenish with green eyes.
- G. pulchellus is paler and duller, scarcely club-tailed and the black line in front of the metastigma is not dead-ended, but extending towards the forewing base.
- Stylurus flavipes has a pair of black-encircled stripes on the front of the thorax and the black stripe behind the metastigma is not forked.
- G. graslinii has forked male appendages and thicker black markings on the thorax.
- G. lucasii may overlap in Morocco or Algeria. It is almost identical to G. simillimus and cen be distinguished with certainty only by hand characters.
As in all gomphids black markings are reduced in hot, arid areas. The Mahgrebian subspecies maroccanus is paler (distinct but also variable).
Size
Habitat
Gomphus simillimus breeds mainly in large slow-flowing rivers and to lesser degree in streams. It is found more rarely in canals and oxbow lakes and ponds fed by ground water., where it can, however, reach high densities. Reproduction has also been noted from standing waters such as abandoned gravel pits and Lake Constance (Bodensee). It is restricted to the lowlands and is rarely seen above 500 m.
Distribution
Gomphus simillimus is endemic to western Europe and the Mahgreb, with its core range in the west Mediterranean. The nominotypical subspecies is endemic to Europe while the distinct but variable Mahgrebian subspecies G. s. maroccanus is restricted to Morocco and the north-west of Algeria. In Europe the species ranges from the south of the Iberian Peninsula to north-east France. Five records from Belgium are considered vagrants. The eastermost populations are from the upper Rhine River around the border of Germany and Switzerland. The highest density of populations are found in south-western half of France, where the species is rather common. In other parts of France it is rarer, with a more scattered distribution. It is generally rather rare in the Iberian Peninsula, although slightly less so in the north-east, and in most areas it is only known from scattered populations.
Flight Period
May to July
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Gomphus vulgatissimus, Gomphus pulchellus, Gomphus graslinii, Gomphus lucasii, Stylurus flavipes