Onychogomphus forcipatus

Small Pliers dragonfly ( Onychogomphus forcipatus ) ♂

The Small Pliers dragonfly ( Onychogomphus forcipatus ) is a dragonfly of the family of Virgin River ( Gomphidae ), which belong to the dragonfly ( Anisoptera ). The species is divided into three sub-species with different geographical distribution on: The nominate the little nipper dragonfly ( Onychogomphus forcipatus forcipatus ) populated North, Central and Eastern Europe. In addition there exists a southwest ( Onychogomphus forcipatus unguiculatus ) and a south-east widespread subspecies ( Onychogomphus forcipatus albotibialis ), which, however, may already be regarded as distinct species.

Features

The Small Pliers dragonfly is a medium-sized dragonfly with a wingspan of 5.5 to 7.5 centimeters. The males have like all dragonflies large pliers, pincer-like abdomen attachments that are usually colored black in this species. On top of the head is a bright, elongated spot is behind the ocelli. The eyes of the males are in the nominate an intense green, f at the subspecies O. unguiculatus blue-green to blue.

Dissemination

The species has a westpaläarktisches distribution area with deposits in Europe (excluding the UK, Denmark and Norway), North Africa and Asia Minor. The nominate O. f forcipatus is distributed from northern Europe to the south of France and Switzerland, Eastern Europe and the Balkans to the Black Sea. In addition, populations still exist in Calabria and Sicily. The distribution area of ​​southwestern subspecies O. f unguiculatus begins in France and extends from the southern Switzerland over the Appeninenhalbinsel (without Calabria and Sicily) and the Iberian Peninsula to North Africa. The south-eastern subspecies O. f albotibialis can be found within Europe only on some islands of the Aegean Sea, and is distributed from there to Asia Minor to the southeast.

Habitat

The Small Pliers dragonfly occurs mainly on warm streams and rivers with gravelly or sandy shores. In addition, appropriate riverside areas larger still waters are inhabited - in East lakes make the presence of the species usually dar.

Way of life

The Small Pliers dragonfly flies in Central Europe from late May to early September. In Southern Europe the Emergenzperiode begins in April.

The male occupies a longer waiting on the shore of potential oviposition body of water. From this perspective, other males are driven or flown females. Away from the water, the males sit also like to no vegetation structures such as roads. After mating, the female lays about 500 eggs.

The larvae live buried in the ground of their waters. The development takes 3-5 years.