Lestes barbarus

Southern Emerald Damselfly (Lestes barbarus ), female

The Southern Emerald Damselfly (Lestes barbarus ) is a small dragonfly of the genus bins Virgin (Lestes ). It belongs to the family of the pond Virgin ( Lestidae ) and is a Mediterranean faunal element.

Description

The species reaches a wingspan of 4.5 to 5 centimeters. The body of the adult bees is dark metallic - brown; on not colored, slip- fresh copies also greenish. The wings are translucent transparent as with many dragonflies; as species-specific distinctive mark can serve the two-tone exterior and interior whitish brown wings times here but.

It is this type with the other bins Virgin confused; but the pterostigma is a clear differentiator.

Occurrence and habitat

The animals live in the waters banks with lots of vegetation and marshy, heavily overgrown ponds, which are mainly dominated by rushes. In southern Europe, they also colonize brackish waters near the coast. The Southern Emerald Damselfly flies from June to September and is in Central Europe, where it occurs as sporadic Wanderart, as endangered. The main focus it is widespread in southern Europe.

Reproduction and life

Mating takes about half an hour. The male accompanies the female to lay eggs yet, which takes place at projecting out of the water plant, but unlike the other bins Virgin, the female lays the eggs then alone. The eggs overwinter, and the aquatile development of the larva to the dragonfly takes only two to three months.

As a food of the adult bees are small insects that are captured in flight.