Common Whitetail

Libellula lydia, males

Libellula lydia is a widespread North American species of dragonfly of the family sailing dragonflies.

Features

Construction of Imago

The thorax of the male is about 5 cm long and white. In contrast, are similar to the Erythrodiplax umbrata brownish-black conspiracies on the otherwise transparent wings. Females have a brown body with a few white splashes, and are therefore less noticeable.

Construction of the larvae

The larvae are dark green or brown, but are found mostly covered with algae.

Nutrition

The Libellula lydia feeds like most dragonflies of mosquitoes and other small flying insects which fly over ponds, marshes and slow-flowing streams.

The larvae feed preferably of aquatic invertebrates such as mayfly larvae and amphipods. But even tadpoles and minnows are on the menu.

Flight Times

Flight times vary a bit with the circulation area. For example, the Imagines in California are active from April to September.

System

Some agencies arrange the Libellula lydia to the genus Libellula Plathemis instead. This has been discussed since the end of the 19th century. Recent genetic methods support the thesis that the separation of L. lydia from the rest of Libellula makes sense.

Scientific names

The first description of the type supplied Drury in 1773 already under the present name. In the same year de Geer described a male from North America, which today is located in the Winthem 's Collection as Libellula trimaculata. Fabricius in 1793 contributed a further description under the name Libellula serra at. William Forsell Kirby described in 1889 as a copy Plathemis lydia which he related at the same time as Generotyp the genus Plathemis. Kirby it was in 1890 recognized the synonymy of the descriptions.

Protection status

Libellula lydia has the protection status G5, so it is classified as occurring in high numbers, very widespread and unthreatened kind in the world. This status they received on 30 December 1985. In the U.S. and Canada has the N5 national equivalent protection status. Even at the level of many states in the U.S. and Canada a protection status was awarded. These are shown in the graph on the right.