Nehalennia speciosa
Dwarf Dragonfly ( Nehalennia speciosa) adult male
The dwarf dragonfly ( Nehalennia speciosa ) is a representative of the family of dragonflies Slim ( Coenagrionidae ). It is considered eurasia schematic of faunal and is 20 to 25 millimeters in body length, the smallest Central European species of dragonfly.
Features
The adults are of delicate shape and achieve a wingspan of 25 millimeters. The males are colored light blue on the lateral thorax and upper side metallic - green. The abdomen is colored blue end from the middle of the eighth abdominal segment. The females occur in a green, blue or orange color morph and stand out with their slightly stronger abdomen. The wings times are white, ocher or light brown. The wings are relatively short; applied to the body they are only up to the sixth abdominal segment. Overall, this dragonfly is hardly confused by their small size; certain similarities with the Little Blue-tailed Damselfly ( Ischnura pumilio ).
Way of life
Flight time begins mid-May and ends in September, with the abundance in June and July has its peak. The type is a poor flier. She considers herself to mainly within Seggenhalmen and is therefore easily overlooked.
Habitat and Distribution
The dwarf dragonfly required as a habitat shallow and not too acidic bog in transition mires and Seggensümpfen. The characteristic vegetation of the habitat consists of Schlammsegge ( Carex limosa ), thread - sedge ( Carex lasiocarpa ), purple moor grass ( Molinia caerulea ), pond horsetail ( Equisetum fluviatile ), fever clover ( Menyanthes trifoliata ) and cotton grass ( Eriophorum spp.).
The range extends from central Europe to Japan, where it generally is temperate zones and to formerly glacially -formed regions. In Poland, the Baltic States and Belarus are more constant occurrence, since there're more suitable habitats are present. In Germany is the way in marshy areas in the Bavarian Alps, at points, represented in Upper Swabia and with large gaps in the North German lowlands, especially in Mecklenburg- Vorpommern. Also from West Austria and Switzerland are known single proof.
Threats and conservation
The dwarf dragonfly is at high risk because of their high stenotopen behavior and habitat loss; in Germany, for example, it is " critically endangered " ( Red List Category 1, booth 1998). Through the Federal Species Protection Ordinance she's here, like all species of dragonflies " special protection ".