The white-legged damselfly or blue featherleg (Platycnemis pennipes) is a damselfly of slow-flowing, muddy waters.[2] It occurs from the Atlantic to Siberia and is often abundant throughout its range.[3]
Platycnemis pennipes is about 32 millimetres (1.3 in) long.[4] Mature adults differ from most other blue damselflies in having expanded white edges to the tibiae, paired black markings down most of the abdomen, broad pale brown double antehumeral stripes, wider head and a pale brown pterostigmata.[2]
The male has a blue abdomen that is often pale and usually has a greenish thorax. The female is a very pale yellow-green colour with black markings.
This species favours unshaded slow-flowing sections of muddy rivers with abundant floating vegetation. it has been recorded in tidal rivers and the larvae seem well able to tolerate brackish water. It also occurs in muddy streams but is rare in lakes or ponds of any sort.[2] In north-west Europe, it is mostly confined to flowing waters.[3]
Mating is preceded by the male displaying his white legs in a fluttering display flight in front of females.[4] Elongated eggs are laid whilst in tandem, into emergent stems and especially the underside of floating leaves. The larvae live amongst bottom debris and emerge after two years.
Behaviouredit
Male sunbathing in the vegetation
After emerging, adults tend to congregate in the shelter of tall vegetation, although some immatures wander away from water and have been found five kilometres away from the nearest breeding site.
Referencesedit
^Clausnitzer, V. (2020). "Platycnemis pennipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T158709A140610287. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T158709A140610287.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ abcDijkstra; Lewington (2006). Field Guide to Dragonflies of Britain and Europe. ISBN0-9531399-4-8.
^ abClausnitzer, V. (2009). "Platycnemis pennipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T158709A5270869. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T158709A5270869.en.
white, legged, damselfly, white, legged, damselfly, blue, featherleg, platycnemis, pennipes, damselfly, slow, flowing, muddy, waters, occurs, from, atlantic, siberia, often, abundant, throughout, range, mature, maleyoung, femaleboth, warsaw, polandconservation. The white legged damselfly or blue featherleg Platycnemis pennipes is a damselfly of slow flowing muddy waters 2 It occurs from the Atlantic to Siberia and is often abundant throughout its range 3 White legged damselflyMature maleYoung femaleboth in Warsaw PolandConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder OdonataSuborder ZygopteraFamily PlatycnemididaeGenus PlatycnemisSpecies P pennipesBinomial namePlatycnemis pennipes Pallas 1771 White legged damselfly Platycnemis pennipes Contents 1 Morphology 2 Breeding 3 Behaviour 4 References 5 External linksMorphology editPlatycnemis pennipes is about 32 millimetres 1 3 in long 4 Mature adults differ from most other blue damselflies in having expanded white edges to the tibiae paired black markings down most of the abdomen broad pale brown double antehumeral stripes wider head and a pale brown pterostigmata 2 The male has a blue abdomen that is often pale and usually has a greenish thorax The female is a very pale yellow green colour with black markings nbsp immature femaleEstonia nbsp immature femaleWarsaw Poland nbsp immature femaleChemnitz Germany nbsp detail of male headBreeding edit nbsp P pennipes in tandem positionThis species favours unshaded slow flowing sections of muddy rivers with abundant floating vegetation it has been recorded in tidal rivers and the larvae seem well able to tolerate brackish water It also occurs in muddy streams but is rare in lakes or ponds of any sort 2 In north west Europe it is mostly confined to flowing waters 3 Mating is preceded by the male displaying his white legs in a fluttering display flight in front of females 4 Elongated eggs are laid whilst in tandem into emergent stems and especially the underside of floating leaves The larvae live amongst bottom debris and emerge after two years Behaviour edit source source source source source source source Male sunbathing in the vegetationAfter emerging adults tend to congregate in the shelter of tall vegetation although some immatures wander away from water and have been found five kilometres away from the nearest breeding site References edit Clausnitzer V 2020 Platycnemis pennipes IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T158709A140610287 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 3 RLTS T158709A140610287 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b c Dijkstra Lewington 2006 Field Guide to Dragonflies of Britain and Europe ISBN 0 9531399 4 8 a b Clausnitzer V 2009 Platycnemis pennipes IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009 e T158709A5270869 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2009 2 RLTS T158709A5270869 en a b Platycnemis pennipes British Dragonfly Society Retrieved 28 May 2011 External links edit nbsp Media related to Platycnemis pennipes at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Platycnemis pennipes at Wikispecies This article related to Platycnemididae is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White legged damselfly amp oldid 1182081110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
