Orthetrum cancellatum

Camara Kodak Dx6490 Con Raynox DCR 250

Campo de Tarragona - Castelvell Almoster - Cataluña - Spain

Class: Insecta

Order: Odonata

Suborder: Anisoptera

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Orthetrum

Species: O. cancellatum

CARACTERÍSTICAS DOMINANTES DE LA IDENTIFICACIÓN * Los varones maduros tienen un abdomen azul con una extremidad negra.

* Las hembras tienen un abdomen amarillento con dos líneas negras longitudinales en la superficie dorsal.

* Alas claras con pterostigma oscuro.

* Puntos amarillos en lados del abdomen.

Ambiente preferido: Piscinas y lagos con la orilla pelada. A menudo en sitios artificiales incluyendo hoyos de la grava o en la cubierta de la planta.

Período del vuelo: Finales de abril a finales de agosto. Habitat y hábitos del adulto: los varones esperanen la vegetación baja cerca en el borde del agua, atacando agresivamente a otros varones. Agarran a las hembras que se acercan para la copulacion.

Se alimentan desde saltamontes (orthoptera), los damselflies (Zygoptera) y las mariposas (Lepidoptera).

KEY IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

* Mature males have a blue abdomen with a black tip.

* Females have a yellowish abdomen with two longitudinal black lines on the dorsal surface.

* Clear wings with dark pterostigma.

* Yellow spots on sides of abdomen.

Preferred environment:

Lowland pools and lakes with shallow margins and areas of bare shore. Often in artificial sites including gravel pits. Most common in early successional stage, decreasing as plant cover increases.

Flight period:

End of April to the end of August.

Adult habitat and habits:

At breeding sites males hold territory around perch on ground or low vegetation near on water's edge, aggressively attacking other males. Also patrol over open water. Approaching females are seized and brief copulation ensues. Feed from perches taking large prey items including grasshoppers (Orthoptera), damselflies (Zygoptera) and butterflies (Lepidoptera).

Oviposition site and behaviour:

Females oviposits alone but with male in attendance. Eggs are laid in flight by dipping abdomen onto water surface.

Larval habitat and habits:

Live in bottom of pond partly buried in silt. Development takes 2-3 years.