Lestes virens
Small Emerald Damselfly (Lestes virens ), male
The Small Emerald Damselfly (Lestes virens) is a dragonfly of the genus of the bins Virgin (Lestes ) and belongs to the family of the pond Virgin ( Lestidae ). In Central Europe, is only the subspecies Lestes virens vestalis Rambur, 1842, before, two other subspecies in the Mediterranean.
Description
This dainty damselflies reach a wingspan of 3.5 to 4 centimeters. Your chest is at the bottom of light blue ( unausgefärbt: yellowish), upper side metallic - green colored. The abdomen is above greenish to black-green. The bluish wax tires of abdomen base and slightly thickened abdome the male is comparatively less pronounced compared to other Lestes species and can also be completely absent. At the back of the head, a sharp separation of the coloring drops to - above this is darker, while the lower head part is discontinued light - yellowish. The wings are brown at times be colored animals and have brighter financial statements on their narrow sides.
Similar Species
Small bins Virgin are other Binsenjungfer species ( Lestes sp. ) To be confused, but are overall more delicate build than this. Even the otherwise similar (not matured ) pastures bridesmaid is much stronger and also has uniformly bright wings times on. The pterostigma is generally an important distinction: In the Commons, and the Shining Binsenjungfer this example, black (brown inside, outside lighter) in the Southern Emerald Damselfly two colors.
Occurrence
The species occurs on standing, sun-exposed waters with sedges and rushes stocks, especially in swampy habitats, sometimes numerous before. In particular, in the northwest part of their total area, including in Germany, seems to have a close bond with oligo - to mesotrophic, often slightly acidic water to exist (eg Heideweiher ). Flight time ranges in Central Europe from June / July to October; thus the Small Emerald Damselfly is the latest style of the year within the genus. In Germany, the Small Emerald Damselfly is found only scattered and is considered high risk. The total distribution area extends over large areas of Europe; in Scandinavia and the British Isles this species but largely missing.
Way of life
The behavior of the little bins Virgin is very similar to the other bins Virgin. One finds the most Imagines on blades of grass at a height between 50 and 80 centimeters sitting and sunbathing. It is also where copulation takes place in Paarungsrad. The approximately 1.4 mm long eggs are protruding from the water, vertical plant stems, for example, of rushes and bulrushes, engraved. The animals but do not climb under the water surface. After the males have accompanied the females laying eggs at first, they dissolve in the course but one of them. The duration of the connection is obviously dependent on the male density in the habitat. Increasingly towards the end of the flight time in late autumn drown many copies on the water surface.
Larval development
The larvae need to develop strong, shallow landing areas with loose to moderately dense vegetation, such as reed beak - sedge or bulrush ordinary. They hunt among other water fleas, copepods, chironomid larvae, ostracods and rotifers. Prior to its conversion to the imago they need depending on the water temperature for two to three months.