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.
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
S. 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.
^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.
^Dennis Paulson; Martin Schorr; Cyrille Deliry. "World Odonata List". University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 15 Feb 2022.
^ abcDijkstra, K.D.; Schröter, Asmus (2020). Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe: 2nd edition. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 242. ISBN978-1-4729-4397-2. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^Gibbons, Bob (2011). Field Guide to Insects of Britain and Northern Europe. Crowood Press. p. 126. ISBN978-1-84797-369-6. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^van Dokkum, Peter (2015). Dragonflies: Magnificent Creatures of Water, Air, and Land. Yale University Press. p. 130. ISBN978-0-300-19708-2. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^ ab"New Dragonfly Species for Britain". British Dragonfly Society. July 11, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^Worldwide Dragonfly Association (2006). Forests and Dragonflies: Fourth WDA International Symposium of Odonatology, Pontevedra (Spain), July 2005. Pensoft Publishers. p. 174. ISBN978-954-642-278-1. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
January 20, 2023
somatochlora, flavomaculata, also, called, yellow, spotted, emerald, common, species, dragonfly, family, corduliidae, distribution, stretches, from, france, siberia, mongolia, frequents, wetlands, range, males, known, defend, their, territory, male, flavomacul. 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 Somatochlora flavomaculataMale S flavomaculataConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder OdonataInfraorder AnisopteraFamily CorduliidaeGenus SomatochloraSpecies S flavomaculataBinomial nameSomatochlora flavomaculata Vander Linden 1825 Synonyms 2 Libellula flavomaculata Vander Linden 1825Cordulia vicetina Disconzi 1865 Contents 1 Identification 2 Behavior 3 Distribution 4 ReferencesIdentification EditUnlike 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 EditThe 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 EditS 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 Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Somatochlora flavomaculata 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 Dennis Paulson Martin Schorr Cyrille Deliry World Odonata List University of Puget Sound Retrieved 15 Feb 2022 a b c Dijkstra K D Schroter 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 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 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 a b New Dragonfly Species for Britain British Dragonfly Society July 11 2018 Retrieved January 2 2023 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Somatochlora flavomaculata amp oldid 1134749254, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
