Saturday 22 May 2010

Keeping your balance

The Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva/Bruine Korenbout) is a dragonfly species of special concern due to loss of its specific ideal habitat. The adult ♂ has a bright blue abdomen with black patches, while the adult ♀ and juvenile ♂ each have a bright orange abdomen. It is about 45 mm in length with an average wingspan of 74 mm. It is distributed throughout Europe. They live on marshes with dense, abundant vegetation. ♀♀ deposit their eggs in slow-current streams, like abandoned channels. Once deposited, the eggs lie embedded in the mud of the riverbed and the larvae develop underwater for usually two years. Adults live from May to August, during which time they mate and lay eggs.
The photos show the birth of an imago and a fresh ♂ on Wild Chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris/Fluitekruid).

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