Azure Hawker

Male

The Alps - hawker ( Aeshna caerulea ) is a species of dragonfly in the family of precious Dragonflies ( Aeshnidae ), which belong to the suborder of large dragonflies ( Anisoptera ). It is in the Alpine Mosaikjungfer a large dragonfly with a wingspan of up to 9 centimeters, which is found in Central Europe only in the marshy areas of the Alps and the Black Forest.

Features

The Alpine Mosaikjungfer reached wingspans 8-9 centimeters. The chest section (thorax ) of the animals is colored black and has blue side and Dorsalstreifen. Also, the abdomen (abdomen) is black with blue drawing.

Way of life

The Alpine Mosaikjungfer can be found in the months of July-August active and exclusively to high moorland waters of the Alps and the Black Forest at altitudes over 1000 meters above sea level. The animals develop mainly in the morning and in the afternoon a special activity, about noon, they are found resting and basking on logs and rocks.

The males fly in search of females over the water. The pairing begins above the water and usually ends in the vegetation. The eggs are inserted into the peat soil

Larval development

On the development of the larvae is almost nothing known. It is thought that they live in the benthos on the seabed and come out only at night.

Threat

Above all, by the increasing destruction of bog waters, in particular the drainage thereof, this dragonfly was like many other wetland species lose their habitat. Especially her very limited habitat makes use of other habitats impossible. Although large parts of their habitat are particularly in the Black Forest nature reserve and the living conditions have not changed recognizable, it is there also disappeared in many places. It is in Germany's Red List in the hazard category 1 - Critically endangered - classified.