Emperor (dragonfly)

Great Emperor Dragonfly ( Anax imperator), ♂

The Great Emperor Dragonfly ( Anax imperator) is a species of dragonfly in the family of precious Dragonflies ( Aeshnidae ), belonging to the suborder of large dragonflies ( Anisoptera ). It is the largest native to Central Europe dragonfly.

Features

The Great Emperor Dragonfly reached wingspans 9.5 to 11 centimeters. The chest section (thorax ) of the animals is colored green, the abdomen ( tummy) the male is light blue with a solid black longitudinal band on the back, which has a tooth-like protrusion on each segment. The abdomen of the female is blue-green, the longitudinal band on the back is brown and wide. In contrast, the slightly smaller Little Emperor Dragonfly ( Anax parthenope ) has a brown chest and the abdomen is blue only in the front area.

Way of life

The Great Emperor Dragonfly is common, especially near standing water. On their hunting flights they can be removed very far from the water however. The males form territories and expel members of other species from this area. It flies in the months of June to August. For food spectrum of the adult bees are mainly flies and mosquitoes, furthermore other Dragonfly (also relatively large species). Occasionally also be other insects, for example, butterflies, captured.

Reproduction

For reproduction, the male engages flying by females in flight and immediately begin mating. Is not induce them the female, this can hang his abdomen and so deceives an oviparous females before. The mating game is terminated, however, usually sitting in the riparian vegetation. It takes several times to copulation. After about ten minutes, the animals separate again, oviposition takes place, the female alone. It stings the eggs on submerged bodies in water plants or floating plant parts. The pressure required to produce it by flapping its wings. In this process, the animals are often disturbed by other dragonflies.

Larval development

The larvae are very active and swim at fault of it with the legs and by recoil. The force for recoil get it through the discharge of water from the respiratory Rektalkiemen. The larvae reached within one to two years of development, a maximum length of 55 millimeters. The duration of the development, especially from the time of egg deposition and water temperature depends. King dragonfly larvae feed on available small animals in their water habitat, such as insect larvae, water bugs and tadpoles. Occasionally, they also prey on fish breeding and spawning.

Hazard and protection situation

The type Anax imperator is guided in the IUCN Red List as not at risk (Least Concern ); in Germany it is considered a kind of order of dragonflies as specially protected, in Switzerland and Austria it is considered safely.