Platycnemididae

Blue Federlibelle ( Platycnemis pennipes ). Spring Dragonflies are very inconspicuous in the field. Typical are the wide-set eyes.

• Blue Federlibelle ( Platycnemis pennipes )
• White feather dragonfly ( Platycnemis latipes )
• Orange Red Federlibelle ( Platycnemis acutipennis )
• Illyrian Federlibelle ( Platycnemis nitidula )
• Maghreb Federlibelle ( Platycnemis subdilatata )

The spring Dragonflies ( Platycnemididae ) are a family of damselflies ( Zygoptera ). They belong thus to the dragonflies ( Odonata ). Worldwide there are about 190 species are known, which are spread over 25 genera. In Central Europe is from this family only the Blue Federlibelle ( Platycnemis pennipes ) spread about also found in south-western Europe, the White Federlibelle ( Platycnemis latipes ) and the Orange Red Federlibelle ( Platycnemis acutipennis ). The Illyrian Federlibelle ( Platycnemis nitidula ) is often regarded as a subspecies of P. acutipennis and occurs only in Greece and the islands. In North Africa, the Maghreb Federlibelle Platycnemis subdilatata is also widely used, can be expected with their appearance on the Iberian Peninsula.

The spring Dragonflies are built very tender. The lower limbs ( tibiae ) of the middle and the rear pairs of legs are flat and are widened. Most spring dragonflies live in standing or slow- flowing waters with much vegetation.

Reproduction and Development

During the mating partners form a Paarungsrad and the subsequent oviposition of dragonflies spring happens in tandem flight. The eggs are inserted into water plants such as water lily or the pondweed, where the female emerges a maximum of the abdomen below the water surface.

After two to three weeks the larvae hatch, which mainly reside in the bottom mud and feed on other insect larvae or worms. The development is an annual, overwintering place as a last larval stage.