Leucorrhinia pectoralis
Leucorrhinia pectoralis (Charpentier, 1825)
Local names: Yellow-spotted whiteface, Große Moosjungfer, Gevlekte witsnuitlibel, Leucorrhine à gros thorax, Citronfläckad kärrtrollslända
Species Information
Description
This dragonfly is slightly larger than the cogener Leucorrhinia dubia. As well as in that species the females of L. pectoralis are slightly smaller than the males. Both the males and females have white faces contrasting with the rest of the darker, mainly black body. The abdomen is club-shaped with an enlargement at S6 conspicuous in the males but less evident in the females. The wings have black venation and black patches at the base of the wings, larger on the hind than on the fore wings but in any event smaller than those of L. dubia (a character hard to make good use of in field). The pterostigma is blackish with whitish veins extending toward the tip of the wing.
The immature males and females are black with yellow dorsal spots on S1-S7, light in colour at the beginning and gradually darker with age. In the females the spots are uniformly wide. On maturation, the spots of the male darkens to brick red and are barely visible against the background colour of the rest of the abdomen. Only the last spot on S7 remains yellow in colour and is thus particularly conspicuous. Note that L. dubia also can have a difference in colour on the last spot, though that will be more orange than yellow. Also that spot is smaller than on L. pectoralis.
Mature males and females are characteristically marked while teneral and immature individuals can be hard to differ from cogeners such as L. dubia and L. rubicunda. It is generally larger than them, but that can be hard to make use of in field. It is also more robust, both sexes has a wider abdomen, swelling around S6. Especially males. They both have more yellow on the abdomen than on L. dubia or L. rubicunda. Although, that makes them look similar to immature males or females of L. albifrons or L. caudalis, these both have white appendages.
Older females become much like the males, that is reddish brown spots with a conspicuous last "lemmon-spot". The female can also stick to having yellow spots on S3-S7.
Size
Habitat
The optimal habitat of Leucorrhinia pectoralis varies strongly between regions and compared with other Leucorrhinia species this species is found in a relatively wide array of habitat types, such as borders of Sphagnum bogs, gravel pits, forest lakes, fish ponds with large stands of reed, fenlands, marshy ditches, oxbows and even sluggish canals. The water surface of the larval habitat is typically unshaded and dominated by submerged vegetation, e.g. bladderworts and hornworts in early and middle stages of succession. This species is considered to be a specialist of shallow swampy and peaty habitats with black water in parts of central and eastern Europe, with the water varying from acidic to neutral. Larvae are sensitive to predation by fish and populations reach their highest density in fish-free waters. Larvae can co-exist with fish, depending on fish species and density, but larval numbers are generally low in these situations. Nonetheless flourishing populations can be found in ponds with fish when surrounding belts of reed and reed maces provide the larvae with adequate shelter.
Distribution
Leucorrhinia pectoralis is widely distributed in central Europe and the south of Fennoscandia but is rare in many countries. It is relatively common in the south of Sweden and in the north of central Europe and is probably widely distributed in Belarus, northern Ukraine and large parts of European Russia, although the records in these regions are few due to a lack of surveys. In the southern parts of western and central Europe, enduring populations become increasingly rare and are lacking in large parts in e.g. France and southern Germany. Nonetheless the species shows a more southerly distribution than its cogeners, with scattered populations found down as far as south-western France, northern Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. Some of these southern localities might pertain to short-lived colonisations by migrants from more northern areas. Further south, there are scattered records partly belonging to vagrants from both sides of the Pyrenees, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.
Flight Period
From May to end of August, peaking in June.
Behavior
The male is often seen perching on straws or sticks protruding over or out of water. He can also sit on floating vegetation, like lilypads a bit out on the water. Both sexes hunt in sunny areas near the water, like clearings or nearby meadows and open or half-open landscapes. There they perch in low vegetation, in or among tufts of grass rather than directly on the ground.
Females usually oviposit alone but can sometimes be joined by a guardian male. Larvae development vary from one to three years, two years likely most common. Exuviae sit a few decimetres up on e.g. reed straws out in the water or along the shore.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Leucorrhinia dubia, Leucorrhinia rubicunda, Leucorrhinia albifrons, 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.