Lestidae

Austrolestes cingulate, an Australian representative of the pond Virgin

The pond Virgin or bins Virgin ( Lestidae ) are a family of damselflies ( Zygoptera ). They belong thus to the dragonflies ( Odonata ). In Central Europe, one finds nine species of this family.

The body of the pond Virgin is slender, the imagos are brown (winter dragonflies genus Sympecma ) or metallic green ( bins Virgin, genus Lestes ) colored. As the larvae develop in standing and usually small bodies of water, you will find these dragonflies especially near ponds or small lakes. There may be multiple Lestes species occur together ( syntopy ). The Tongs at the rear end of the males of these species vary in design and "fit" in accordance only with the right females. Thus the Different type of copulation is avoided, although the males certainly also fly to foreign females.

Reproduction

For reproduction, the males form the pond Virgin areas of a size of 0.5 to 1.5 meters of the near shore branches bushes and trees. This turf war between the males are discharged, which specify the precedence and thus the allocation of the district. The rank of the animals increases from bottom to top. Once these areas are fixed, the females appear individually and fly in 10 to 15 meters height on the riparian vegetation along. Several males start simultaneously from their area and follow the female until it can be taken and inseminated by one of the males.

Eggs are laid after mating, usually accompanied by the male, which continues to hold the female in the pincer grip ( tandem flight ). Spawning usually takes place in parts of the plant above the water, where the willow maid ( Chalcolestes viridis) their eggs always sticks into woody branches above the water. Some species lay their eggs beneath the water surface into the substrate.

The larvae live at the bottom of the water or on aquatic plants. After about two months, the larval development is complete, until then the larvae between eight and eleven moults have lived through. The wintering of Lestes and Chalcolestes species occurs as egg,. Winter dragonflies as Imago The latter are thus the only two species of dragonflies, which overwinter as fully developed insect.

Species

The following table represents the European representatives of the pond Virgin

Pond Virgin - Lestidae

  • Genus winter Dragonflies ( Sympecma ) Common Winter Dragonfly - Sympecma fusca
  • Siberian Winter Dragonfly - Sympecma paedisca
  • Common pastures Bridesmaid - Chalcolestes viridis
  • Eastern pastures Bridesmaid - Chalcolestes parvidens
Philip Powell Calvert
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