Libelloides coccajus
Dragonfly Schmetterlingshaft ( Libelloides coccajus )
The Dragonfly Schmetterlingshaft ( Libelloides coccajus ) is a lacewings of the family of gorgeous butterfly ( Ascalaphidae ).
Description
The animals reach a wingspan of 42-55 millimeters. Their front wings are lemon yellow on the front edge to far towards the tip and around the wing roots. More rarely occur also white-colored specimens in appearance. Between the two yellow spots sits a black spot. The rest of the wing is transparent, only the core network is deep black. The hind wings are at neck and parts of the rim black, or lemon yellow. The body is black. The long black antennae are thickened at the ends. The males can be recognized by their curved abdomen pliers.
Way of life
The very shy creatures fly nimbly around on warm and sunny holidays from May to July. They fly in an elegant Schwirrflug usually just above, but often very high above the vegetation to take their prey, small flying insects. When they rest, their wings are spread out in the sun. The sun disappears, even if only for a short time, they sit down at a blade of grass and lay their wings roof-like over the body. You are suddenly no longer frightened. Try rather behind the stalk to hide and not even fly away when tearing of the straw.
Occurrence
The animals come in Central Europe only rarely. But can be found in the southwest on warm slopes with open vegetation, sometimes in the range of fields of boulders. In the north, they do not occur.