Cordulegastridae

Source damselfly ( Cordulegaster spec. ) Hatching

The source Virgin ( Cordulegastridae, Syn Cordulegasteridae Tillyard 1917) are a family of dragonflies ( Anisoptera ) and the only representatives of the superfamily of Cordulegastroidae. They belong thus to the dragonflies ( Odonata ).

In Central Europe, there are two species of this family, as the source Striped Bridesmaid ( Cordulegaster bidentata ) and as a two- Striped source damselfly ( Cordulegaster boltonii ) are known. Of the latter also exists a classified as a subspecies Form named C. boltonii immaculifrons.

The domestic source maiden reach a wingspan of up to 10.5 centimeters and are strikingly marked black and yellow, with the Two Striped source maid a large and a small bandage wears on her black abdomen on each segment, the Striped source maid only one large. The ovipositor ( ovipositor ) of the female is stilettförmig and overlooks the rear end. The eyes are green or bluish.

The source maiden require relatively clean and fast flowing waters for the development of their larvae. For this reason, the stocks of both species are understood in many parts of their range in decline. The adults fly from June to September and are mainly found in mountain streams and lowland streams with good water quality.

To lay their eggs, the females fly vertically above the water and stab with her ovipositor the eggs in the gravel of the water. The hatching larvae burrow further into the substrate so that only the head and the front end looks with the front legs out.

The development time of the animals takes about three to five years, at the time the larvae reach an overall length of 45 millimeters.

Genera

According to the Catalogue of Life Family Cordulegastridae includes the following six genera:

  • Anotogaster Selys, 1854
  • Chlorogomphus Selys, 1854
  • Cordulegaster Leach, 1815, for example, Striped source Bridesmaid (C. bidentata ), Two Striped source Bridesmaid (C. boltonii )
  • Neallogaster Cowley, 1934
  • Sinorogomphus Carle, 1995
  • Watanabeopetalia Karube, 2002
Philip Powell Calvert
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