Libellula quadrimaculata
Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus, 1758
Local names: Four-spotted chaser, Four-spotted skimmer, Vierfleck, Viervlek, Libellule à quatre taches, Fyrfläckad trollslända
Species Information
Description
A medium sized dragonfly lacking any red or blue colours, rather it is discretely coloured in yellowish-brown. Both sexes look alike with brown eyes. Like the Leucorrhinia species it has a white face but is not like them in any other aspect. The yellow tones disappear rather quickly and older individuals can look quite grey and dull. The name comes from the four black spots at the nodes of the wings. The dark patch at the base is present only on the hind wings. The abdomen is wide but narrowing towards the end, like on that of Epitheca bimaculata but not as wide as on Libellula dipressa. The last segments of the abdomen are black and on the sides there are yellow spots that darken with age.
The amount of black around the nodes on the wings vary extensively. The forma praenubilia is characterised by a dark band extending across the wing at the pterostigmas and often have larger black spots at the nodes as well. Teneral individuals can initially lack the black nodes.
Size
Habitat
The species occurs in a large variety of mainly stnding waters but is most common on largely unshaded lakes and ponds with extensive riparian and aquatic vegetation as well as stretches of open water. High densities can be encountered in acidic lakes, ponds, bogs, fens and peat excavations; however the species also occurs commonly at man-made waters such as ditches and garden and fish ponds.
Distribution
Libellula quadrimaculata is one of the most common and widespread dragonflies in the world, ranging across large parts of both the Palearctic and the Nearctic. Its African distribution is limited to the Atlas and Rif mountains in Morocco. In Asia, isolated records to the south as far as Iran, Afghanistan and southern China. In Europe it is one of the most common and abundant dragonflies throughout the most of the continent. It becomes rare towards the Mediterranean, where it is largely confined to mountains. It is often abundant, and numerous reports have been published on large migrating swarms.
Flight Period
April to August
Behavior
Males are aggressive towards each other and never spoils a chance to chase away a rival. Territory is guarded both by flying low over the water and from perching positions on protruding vegetation. They often return to the same spot again and again. They often hover still in mid-air. Under good circumstances many males can be found at small areas.
Hunting is done close to the water or far away up on clearings, meadows or such.
Females visiting the water will be more or less assaulted by one or many males, eager to mate. Mating is done quickly whereupon the male jealously guards the female while she lays the eggs. She does this flying, into the water.
Larvae hatch after 2-3 weeks and their development is two to three years. Exuviae are found on vegetation near the water.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Epitheca bimaculata
External Links
Genus: Libellula
Libellula is a genus of dragonflies, commonly called chasers or skimmers, in the family Libellulidae. They are distributed throughout the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species are found in the North America.
Identification
The Libellula are medium-sized dragonflies, with diagnostic dark triangular patches at the hindwing base, normally crossed by pale veins. They have 12-20 antenodal cross-veins, and is the only libellulid genus in Europe with always more than one cross-vein in each so-called bridge space (the long triangular space below the subnode).
Separation from other genera
Leucorrhinia is the only genus also with dark hindwing patches whose distributions overlap widely., but in these the patches are smaller and not pale-veined. Leucorrhinia species are also much smaller, have 7-8 antenodal cross-veins and bright white frons. Mature males of Diplacodes lefebvrii and Trithemis festiva have dark hindwing patches but are much smaller, sleeker and generally darker. Orthetrum species can be similarly robust and pruinose, but never have more than a slight yellow colouring at the wing base.
Separation of the species
Identification is best done by abdomen shape, wing patterns and body colours. The three widespread species also have rather different habitat preferences.
Behaviour
Males are aggressive and territorial and relentlessly chase off rivals with fast dashes after which they return to their preferred perches. They do not oviposit in tandem, but females are usually guarded by the male hovering overhead. However, L. fulva and probably L. pontica oviposit alone.
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.