Leucorrhinia albifrons
Leucorrhinia albifrons (Burmeister, 1839)
Local names: Dark whiteface, Östliche Moosjungfer, Oostelijke witsnuitlibel, Leucorrhine à front blanc, Pudrad kärrtrollslända
Species Information
Description
Leucorrhinia albifrons males are the darkest and dullest of the Leucorrhinia species. It is dark grey, their abdomen is slender and cylindrical with the base covered in light-blue pruinosity. The pterostigma is dark and the appendages are white in both the sexes. The immature males and females are black with small yellow spots. The frons is white and light-coloured spots are present on the sides of the labium.
It can be distinguished from L. caudalis by the dark pterostigma and the abdomen which is not clubbed in the males and by the very small yellow spots on the abdomen on the females.
It can be distinguished from the other Leucorrhinia species by:
- Largely dark without reddish spots; yellow markings restricted and visible only in females and immature males.
- Abdominal spots small and confined to S2-S6, at most a trace on S7.
- Appendages white in both sexes.
- Mature males are all-dark with bluish-grey pruinosity, especially at the abdomen base and wing joints. The thickest pruinosity covers S3-4, but thin pruinosity may also cover the thorax (e.g. between the wings).
Size
Habitat
Leucorrhinia albifrons is mainly found at oligotrophic to mesotrophic acidic lakes which are largely unshaded but often surrounded by forests. Many populations occurs at Sphagnum peat bogs and in lakes which are part of larger bog systems. Suitable habitats often have dark, organic-rich but non-turbid, water and genrally have extensive bank side vegetation including peat rafts and moderately dense emergent and floating vegetation. More rarely the species is found at oligotrophic alkaline or weakly eutrophic lakes, oxbows with clear water or flooded quarries. It can coexist with fish in habitats where the vegetation offers shelter against predation; otherwise it is restricted to acidic waters, where fish are absent. It is largely confined to lowlands and rarely occures above 500 m, although it has been found up to 1 150 m in the Jura Plateau and up to 1 400 m in the French Alps.
Distribution
Leucorrhinia albifrons is a Palearctic species ranging from western and northern Europe to the north-east of the Altai mountains. Although relatively few records are available from its Asian range, the species is probably more widely distributed in the region, but generally uncommon. Despite its relatively large range, L. albifrons is one of the rarest European odonate species and throughout its range population density is low. The principal area of occurrence runs from eastern Germany and southern Fennoscandia to the Ural Mountains. The paucity of records from Belarus and Russia, in contrast to the numerous sites known from the Baltic states and southern Urals, is probably due to limited surveys. In this case, the majority of the European populations are probably to be found in Russia. To the south, only a few localities are known from Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula. In central Europe, the species' range continues through the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland to the Jura and the Alpine regions of eastern France. In this part of its range, the species is generally rare with widely scattered and generally small populations. An exception is the area in western France along the Atlantic coast of Aquitaine, where L. albifrons is widespread in acid peaty bogs and dune lakes in the Pine forest.
Flight Period
End of April to mid-August, with peak in June
Behavior
OFten perches in bankside bushes or trees. Unlike L. caudalis seldom perches on lilypads.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Leucorrhinia caudalis
External Links
Genus: Leucorrhinia
Leucorrhinia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. They are commonly called whitefaces because of their distinctive pale frons.
Identification
Easily distinguished, even from afar, by their bright white face that is contrasting with their largely black body. This feature is combined with unique wings, having dark spots at the hindwing bases, only 7-8 (rarely 9) forewing antenodal cross-veins and notably short, rectangular pterostigmas. The abdomen is predominantly black, with a single series of pale dorsal spots that either turn deep red in mature males or disappear whilst the abdomen becomes grey pruinose at its base.
Separation from other genera
Other libellulids have coloured faces, although this may be poorly developed in young individuals, and in most of those genera pale colours predominate on the abdomen. Males developing pruinosity (e.g. Orthetrum, Libellula) tend to have this on more than half the abdomen, but the distinction may be difficult in old and worn pruinose Leucorrhinia males. The only largely black libellulid occurring widely with Leucorrhinia species is Sympetrum danae. The smallest species, L. dubia in particular, may be confused with it when viewed from a distance; S. danae has a yellow to black face, and at most a yellow hindwing base. Finally, the white-faced North American vagrant Pachydiplax longipennis may recall a Leucorrhinia species, but it is only likely to appear on the Atlantic seaboard.
Separation of the species
Five species occur in our area. All increase in abundance towards the north-east, ranging deeply into Siberia. Another seven inhabit North America. Our species can easily be separated into two groups. Two species have white appendages and males that become dark, with grey pruinosity at the abdomen base. Three others have dark appendages and develop deep red markings but no pruinosity. Note that the species in these groups often occur together. The white appendages are easily seen from a distance. To identify species, especially the red-spotted ones, examination in the hand might be helpful. The male's hamule and female's vulvar scale rule out all confusion. Young individuals of all species are black with yellowish spots, and can only be separated safely by close examination, and by also referring to the pattern of spots.
| Group | species | |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | L. albifrons, L. caudalis | has white appendages |
| Group 2 | L. pectoralis, L. dubia, L. rubicunda | has dark appendages |
Behaviour
All species have an erratic flight, especially the smaller red-marked species, which can often be seen dancing over bogs and fens. The larger, pruinose species fly more slowly, often over open water or even among the trees surrounding a breeding site. Females of all species may oviposit alone, or are guarded by the male flying or perching nearby.
Family: Libellulidae
The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded, there still remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of all dragonflies.
The genus Libellula is mostly New World, but also has one of the few endangered odonates from Japan: Libellula angelina. Many of the members of this genus are brightly colored or have banded wings. The related genus Plathemis includes the whitetails. The genus Celithemis contains several brightly marked species in the southern United States. Members of the genus Sympetrum are called darters (or meadowhawks in North America) and are found throughout most of the world, except Australia. Several Southern Hemisphere species in the genera Trithemis and Zenithoptera are especially beautiful. Other common genera include Tramea and Pantala.
The libellulids have stout-bodied larvae with the lower lip or labium developed into a mask over the lower part of the face.
The family name may have been derived from the Latin libella which means booklet.