Small Red-eyed Damselfly
Small damselfly ( Erythromma viridulum ), male
The Little Red-Eyed ( Erythromma viridulum ) belongs to the family of dragonflies Slim ( Coenagrionidae ). It is considered Mediterranean faunal and flies in Central Europe from June to September, or an average of slightly later than the more widespread Great north damselfly ( Erythromma najas ), but with which it may also socialized.
Features
The species is very similar to the Great Red-Eyed. Against this Erythromma viridulum is about five millimeters shorter with about 30 millimeters, which is not particularly falls in the eye. To distinguish the males are rather based on the top-side drawing on the tenth (last) abdominal segment in the form of a black "X". Furthermore, the sides of the second and eighth abdominal segment at the little blue damselfly. More often be observed, moreover, that sedentary males bend the abdomen slightly upwards, which is not the case with Erythromma najas. In the female the Abdomensegmente four to eight are yellow-green, while the segments are in front and behind colored blue-green. The rear edge of the prothorax of females lack the typical for the other type bulges. The compound eyes of the males of Erythromma viridulum are red in color, the females are brown above, greenish yellow below.
Dissemination and lifestyle
The Little Red-Eyed is a holomediterrane thermophilic Art A spread and population increase in relation to climate change can be observed for some species of dragonflies, even for the little damselfly. Thus, this species is currently not on the Red List of Germany. Like all indigenous dragonflies is the kind yet " specially protected " by the Federal Species Protection Ordinance.
The Little Red-Eyed keeps almost entirely in the diving sheet zone, ie close to the open water surface of still or slow -flow waters with floating leaf vegetation ( for example, yellow pond lily ) or to the surface next dive foliage plants, and is rarely found in the riparian vegetation. Eggs are laid in " tandem formation" in floating plant parts, such as rung of rough Hornwort ( Ceratophyllum demersum ), water milfoil ( Myriophyllum spp. ) Or pondweed ( Potamogeton spp.).
The larvae climb to hatch not up like other Coenagrionidae on vertical parts of plants from the water. Rather them to look at on the water surface floating leaves or floating algae Watten.