Somatochlora flavomaculata
Male S. flavomaculata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Corduliidae
Genus: Somatochlora
Species:
S. flavomaculata
Binomial name
Somatochlora flavomaculata
Synonyms[2]
  • Libellula flavomaculata Vander Linden, 1825
  • Cordulia vicetina Disconzi, 1865

Somatochlora flavomaculata, also called yellow-spotted emerald, is a common species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. Its distribution stretches from France to Siberia and Mongolia. It frequents wetlands in its range. The males are known to defend their territory.

Identification

Unlike other dragonflies that are metallic green, the species has yellow spots on its thorax and abdomen. Females have the largest spots, and the spots are brighter on young specimens. Spots on the abdomen become darker as an individual ages and may later become almost invisible.[3] The species is similar to Somatochlora metallica, also known as brilliant emerald, but it has more yellow on top of its abdomen with yellow going down its sides.[4] S. flavomaculata is also smaller than S. metallica.[3]

Behavior

The males defend their territory on dry vegetation, paths by bushes and trees, in a reedbed's glades, and waterbodies. Near the end of its breeding cycle, the waterbodies are often patrolled by the males. Their mating wheel, in which they mate while in the shape of a wheel, may be seen circling for a few minutes each time above reedbeds.[3][5]

Distribution

Somatochlora flavomaculata can be commonly found in wetlands in continental Europe, with populations being found from northern France to Siberia and Mongolia. It was first discovered in the United Kingdom in 2018 at Carlton and Oulton Marshes by wildlife photographer Andrew Easton, who appealed to users on Twitter to identify the species.[6] The species may have been carried to the UK by easterly winds in the spring and summer despite not being known to travel for long distances.[6] The species was used to indicate species richness in central Sweden's boreal forests.[7]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Somatochlora flavomaculata.
  1. ↑ Kalkman, V.J. (2014). "Somatochlora flavomaculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T165485A19161728. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T165485A19161728.en. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. (2023). "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral, University of Alabama. Retrieved 14 Mar 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Dijkstra, K.D.; Schröter, Asmus (2020). Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe: 2nd edition. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 242. ISBN 978-1-4729-4397-2. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Gibbons, Bob (2011). Field Guide to Insects of Britain and Northern Europe. Crowood Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-84797-369-6. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ van Dokkum, Peter (2015). Dragonflies: Magnificent Creatures of Water, Air, and Land. Yale University Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-300-19708-2. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "New Dragonfly Species for Britain". British Dragonfly Society. July 11, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Worldwide Dragonfly Association (2006). Forests and Dragonflies: Fourth WDA International Symposium of Odonatology, Pontevedra (Spain), July 2005. Pensoft Publishers. p. 174. ISBN 978-954-642-278-1. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
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