Types of dragonflies: names and photos. Representatives of the order of dragonflies
Grandfather's family
(Gomphidae)
Medium-sized dragonflies with transparent, unpatterned wings. The eyes on the crown are widely spaced. The hind wings of males have a rounded notch at the base; in females they are smoothly rounded. Dragonflies often fly far from bodies of water and stay on the edges and forest clearings. To lay eggs, females choose flowing water bodies with a sandy, muddy or rocky bottom. They fly over the surface of such bodies of water, periodically lowering the end of their abdomen into the water. At this moment they lay an egg. The larvae live at the bottom of reservoirs, have a dense body and digging legs. With their help, they bury themselves in sand or silt. They feed on bottom-dwelling insect larvae, worms and small mollusks.
(Gomphus vulgatissimus)
The eyes are bluish-green, separated by a yellow forehead. The chest is yellow, with oblique black stripes. The abdomen is black, with yellow spots on the sides, and a yellow longitudinal line on top. Legs are black. Body length 45-50 mm, wingspan up to 70 mm.
Dragonflies live only 4 weeks, flying from early May to late July. In the spring they are found on the edges of forests and clearings, in the summer they stay near reservoirs, rivers, canals, forest lakes with a sandy or muddy bottom. Females lay eggs directly in the water. The larvae stay on the bottom and are not associated with vegetation. They develop over 2 - 3 years.
(Onychogomphus forcipatus))
The eyes are green. The main body color is dark brown and black. The head has a yellow spot on the front. There are yellow curved stripes on the chest. The abdomen is black, with yellow spots. The legs are black, brownish at the base. In males, the end of the abdomen is expanded. Body length up to 55 mm, wingspan up to 75 mm.
Dragonflies fly in June - July. Eggs are laid directly in water. The larvae live on sandy or rocky areas of the bottom, often in rivers with fast currents. The development of larvae lasts 3 - 4 years.
Grandflies are one of our most common dragonflies.
Area
Europe, Transcaucasia, Western Siberia(except the north).
Features of morphology
Medium sized dragonflies. The length of the abdomen is 33–37 mm, the length of the wings is 28–33 mm. They are distinguished by a characteristic yellow-black pattern. The legs are entirely black. The last segments of the abdomen are noticeably expanded. The larvae are densely covered with bristles, which helps them with burrowing and camouflage. The legs of the larvae are long, so that the posterior pair, when extended, extends beyond the posterior end of the abdomen.
Features of biology
The larvae inhabit the foothills of rivers with moderate currents and rocky bottoms. The summer period of adults in Crimea is May – June. Adults prefer forested areas, where they hunt among trees and in clearings. They can fly up to 10 km from the breeding site. Sexually mature males stay near the watercourse, guarding the chosen territory. Females lay eggs by lowering their abdomen into the water without the participation of males. The larvae live at the bottom, burrowing into the soil; prefer silted places with a slow flow and a depth of at least 20 cm. Sensitive to water pollution. The species overwinters at the larval stage. The development of larvae lasts, as a rule, 2–3 years.
Threats
Changes in the hydrological regime (construction of dams, excessive water intake leading to drainage of river sections); excavation of soil from the riverbed; discharge of pollutants of both organic and chemical origin into rivers; removal of tree plantations along rivers.
Security measures
It is necessary to preserve sections of rivers where populations of the species are registered, as well as preserve the hydrological regime upstream of the watercourse; compliance with the protective regime of water protection zones; prohibition of hydraulic construction in the habitats of the species, prevention of river pollution, dredging of bottom soil, straightening of the riverbed, and cutting down of trees in the river floodplain.
Sources of information
Artobolevsky, 1929; Khrokalo, Prokopov, 2009; Prokopov, 2010.
Compiled by: Prokopov G. A. Photo: Prokopov G. A.
Dedki are dragonflies, quite large in size. The main feature of this species is that their larvae do not live in stagnant bodies of water, but in fast rivers.
Larvae, like adults, are active predators; they feed on small invertebrates and even fish larvae.
Grandfather's appearance
The wingspan of the grandfather is about 6-7 centimeters. This species of dragonfly is easily recognized by the swollen tip of its abdomen. The dragonfly's eyes are green-blue and its forehead is yellow.
The chest is also yellow, but it is decorated with black oblique stripes. The abdomen is black, there are yellow spots on the sides, and a longitudinal line that is also yellow runs along the top. Grandfather's wings are transparent. The legs are long and black.
Grandfather's lifestyle
The lifespan of adults is only 4 weeks. They fly from early May to late July. In spring, they can be found near reservoirs, canals, and rivers with a sandy or muddy bottom. They are common in Europe and the European part of our country.
The Yellowlegged Grandfly is a fairly large dragonfly. These dragonflies have their own feeding areas. Males guard their boundaries very jealously. When females appear, males sometimes start fights. Before a fight, they show their dissatisfaction with aerobatic maneuvers, clicking jaws and loud rustling of wings.
Day after day, damsels are found in a certain territory, while dragonflies fly around their plots, confirming the boundaries. While patrolling the territory, dragonflies also hunt. If a dragonfly notices prey, it deviates from the route, grabs the victim, and then returns to the area again.
The grandfather dragonfly is a predatory animal. Grandfathers are ruthless predators. They have hunting tactics like hawks. They can hide, and when they notice prey, they overtake it with a sharp jerk. When hunting, these dragonflies rely mainly on their vision. Vision sometimes fails these hunters: it was noticed how the grandfather rushed after a leaf or a feather floating in the air.
Reproduction
Grandfather has no ovipositor. Females scatter eggs one at a time, striking the water with the tip of their abdomen. The larvae live at the bottom of slow-flowing rivers. As noted, they feed on small invertebrates. Grandfathers develop in 2-3 years.
Dragonflies are a relatively small order of insects. There are 165 species in the USSR, of which about 100 are found in the European part of the country. Thanks to an open lifestyle, large sizes And the bright colors of dragonflies are well known to everyone.
Dragonfly head structure: 1 - with eyes apart; 2 - with eyes touching; 3 - with a wavy edge of the eyes.
Representatives of the order are distinguished by a slender body no less than 30 mm long, a large mobile head, a large chest and a long narrow abdomen. Dragonflies are also characterized by long, narrow wings with very abundant venation, forming a dense network of veins. At the end of the wings, on their leading edge, a dark spot is usually clearly visible - the wing ocellus. Most of the head is occupied by large, brightly colored, usually blue, green or red eyes. In some species they touch at the crown, in others, on the contrary, they are widely spaced. The antennae are very short. Mouthparts are gnawing. The legs are short and very tenacious.
Dragonflies are typical daytime insects that love bright sun and hide among plants at night. The active life of these insects takes place in the air. Dragonflies catch their prey - relatively large insects - in flight using their tenacious legs, and capture small ones with their jaws. Having caught a prey, a dragonfly usually sits on a plant or other object, but it can also eat prey while flying.
During the breeding season, some dragonflies lay eggs individually directly into the water, but in most species this process is more complex. Dragonflies, for example, place eggs in cuts in stems aquatic plants, and the female continues laying eggs under water, where she descends along the stem in an air bubble, accompanied by the male. Rocker dragonflies insert eggs into plant tissue. Some dragonflies lay many eggs on aquatic plants at once, surrounding them with a gelatinous substance, sometimes in the shape of a long cord.
Dragonfly larvae develop in water, in most cases in shallow, standing or weakly flowing water bodies. They are mainly of two types. One group of dragonflies is characterized by long, thin larvae with 3 caudal gill plates at the end of the body. These larvae stay among aquatic vegetation. In another group of dragonflies, the larvae are thick and short, without tail plates. They usually live at the bottom of reservoirs among dead parts of plants and silt. Dragonfly larvae are active predators, attacking small aquatic animals, mainly insects. They can also feed by picking up sediment from the bottom of the reservoir with their mouthparts and selecting food particles from it.
The importance of dragonflies in nature is diverse. Adult dragonflies eat large numbers of small flying insects, including many mosquitoes, midges and other bloodsuckers that attack humans and animals. Among the insects eaten by dragonflies, there are many pests of agriculture and forestry. Dragonfly larvae in water bodies also destroy harmful insects developing in the water. Only in certain cases, for example in fish ponds, are dragonfly larvae harmful because they attack fry. This harm, however, is minor. Therefore, in general, dragonflies are beneficial insects.
You can keep dragonfly larvae in a living corner. To do this, use an aquarium or a large jar filled with water with a certain amount of aquatic plants. Dragonfly larvae are very voracious. They can be fed insects such as bloodworms or flies that are dropped on the surface of the water. In captivity, larvae get used to eating non-living food, for example, pieces of meat, etc. When there is a lack of food, they often eat each other.
Family identification table
1 (6) The hind wings are the same shape and size as the front wings. The eyes are widely spaced: the gap between them (top view) is greater than the width of one eye.
2 (5) The wings are transparent, their base is narrow, and has the appearance of a stalk. There is a dark wing ocellus.
3 (4) The abdomen is entirely bronze-green. The wing ocellus is long, its length is twice as wide as its width.................................... .......................
4 (3) The abdomen is predominantly black-blue, sometimes green, with a blue spot at the end. The wing ocellus is short, almost square.....
5 (2) The wings are dark in color, their base is wide, not stalked. There is no dark wing eye...................................................
6 (1) The hind wings are widened at the base, noticeably wider than the front ones. The eyes are close together, touching, or separated at a distance (top view) that is less than the width of the eye.
7 (8) Eyes (top view) do not touch, are distant from each other.........
8 (7) The eyes (top view) touch at one point or over some distance.
9 (10) The eyes (top view) touch at one point. The body is painted black and yellow......................
10 (9) The eyes (top view) touch for some distance.
11 (12) The coloring is variegated, the pattern of the abdomen usually consists of many multi-colored stripes and spots.................................... ...............
12 (11) The abdomen is one color or has a pattern of a few spots and stripes.
13 (14) The body is usually metallic shiny. The posterior edge of the eye (lateral view) is wavy.................................................... ...........................
14 (13) Body without metallic sheen. The posterior edge of the eye (lateral view) is straight....................................
FAMILY OF BEAUTY (Calopterygidae)
The beauties are medium-sized dragonflies, distinguished by their unique way of folding their wings: while most dragonflies have their wings spread out to the sides at rest, in the beauties they are pressed against each other on the dorsal side and retracted back. The colors of the beauties are dominated by blue and green tones. The wings of these dragonflies are also usually colored. The larvae are slender, with 3 caudal gill plates.
(Calopteryx virgo)
Males have a bluish or greenish-blue body with a metallic sheen. The wings are almost entirely bluish-blue, shiny. The females have a bronze-green body, shiny in front, matte at the rear end. The wings are transparent, with brown veins, only the leading edge of the wing has a green metallic sheen. Body length up to 50 mm, wingspan up to 70 mm.
Dragonflies are distinguished by their slow fluttering flight, reminiscent of the flight of daytime butterflies. They are found near slow-moving streams and small rivers, the banks of which are covered with vegetation. Females usually sit among this vegetation, while males fly above the surface of the water along the shore.
They are found from spring to autumn, appearing at the end of April.
Females lay eggs in the tissues of living coastal plants, less often in dead plant tissues. The larvae live in flowing waters in places with slow flowing water, usually near the shore among coastal vegetation. The development of larvae lasts 2 years.
(Calopteryx splendens)
Males have a metallic shiny, blue body; the middle of the wing with a wide blue band. Females have a golden-green body; the wings are transparent, with a greenish tint and metallic shiny green cross-veins. Body length up to 50 mm, wingspan up to 70 mm.
The lifestyle is the same as the previous species.
Stay near bodies of water.
THE LYUTKI FAMILY (Lestidae)
Medium-sized, slender dragonflies with slow flight. When sitting on plants, they spread their wings to the sides and move them back, so that the wings are located at an angle to the body. Only a few species fold their wings along their abdomen. The color is usually green or bronze, with a metallic tint. The larvae colonize bodies of water with stagnant water, even those that dry up by the end of summer.
(Sympycna fusca)
Males and females are colored the same. The body is mostly brownish-bronze, with a wide bronze stripe on the chest. The ends of the wings are slightly pointed. Body length up to 35 mm, wingspan up to 45 mm.
Adult dragonflies of the new generation fly near water bodies from late June to October. They then spend the winter and meet again in the spring. The total lifespan of dragonflies is up to 10 months. Lutki fly poorly and therefore most often sit on coastal plants. Females lay up to 350 eggs, placing them in dead tissues of sedge, reeds, reeds and other plants directly at the surface of the water, both in above-water and underwater parts, less often they lay eggs in living tissues of plants. The larvae are slender, very mobile, and develop in ponds, ditches and other standing bodies of water. They live among aquatic vegetation. Larval development is completed in 8-10 weeks.
(Lestes dryas)
Males and females are colored the same. The body is bronze-green above, the chest on the sides below is yellowish, with stripes. The edges of the wings are brown. Body length up to 40 mm, wingspan up to 50 mm.
Adult dragonflies fly near water bodies from late June to September. Eggs are laid in the tissue of aquatic plants. Often up to 50-70 eggs are laid on one plant, which are placed in a straight line up to 40 cm long. In autumn, these plants die and, together with the laid eggs, fall into the water. The larvae emerge from the eggs in the spring. Larval development is completed in 8-10 weeks.
ARROW FAMILY (Coenagrionidae)
Small slender dragonflies with narrow transparent wings. Males and females usually have different colors. In most species, males are blue, with black spots and stripes, females are pale green. However, some arrows have a different color. At rest, the wings are folded along the abdomen. Eggs are laid on underwater parts of plants. The larvae are slender, with 3 caudal gill plates.
(Enallagma cyathigerum)
The male is blue, with a black pattern. The anterior segments of the abdomen are almost entirely blue, with a black heart-shaped spot at their rear. Only on the two middle segments are the black spots oblong and occupy about half the length of the segments. The end of the abdomen is entirely blue, with the exception of the caudal appendages. In females, the color can be variable, greenish or reddish-brown. Unlike males, females have an oblong black spot developed on each abdominal segment. Body length up to 35 mm, wingspan 40-45 mm.
Dragonflies are found throughout the warm season - from early May to mid-September. They prefer large ponds and lakes or slow-moving rivers. They often fly far from bodies of water. Eggs are laid on underwater parts of plants. The larvae stay among aquatic vegetation.
(Ischnura elegans)
The head is black, with light spots behind the eyes. The male has a blue chest, with a wide dark longitudinal stripe on top and narrower stripes on the sides, a black belly, with narrow bands, at the end with a large blue spot. The color of females is variable. Some of them repeat the color of the male, others have a brownish chest without any stripes. Body length up to 35 mm, wingspan up to 45 mm.
Dragonflies fly near standing and low-flowing water bodies from the beginning of May to the end of September. The female lays eggs on various aquatic plants, among which the larvae subsequently live.
(Coenagrion puella)
The color of males is predominantly blue. The segments of the anterior part of the abdomen are blue, at the end with a black spot, from which 2 lateral black lines extend forward. Next are the segments in which black color predominates. The terminal segments are again blue, with the exception of the black caudal appendages. Females are mostly greenish. Each abdominal segment of the female has a large black spot, so that from above each segment appears black with a greenish edge. Body length up to 35 mm, wingspan up to 45 mm.
Dragonflies are found from early May to late September near various bodies of water, both standing and low-flowing. They usually sit on semi-aquatic and aquatic vegetation. Dragonflies fly slowly, only for short distances. Eggs are laid on various aquatic plants. The larvae stay among aquatic vegetation. Larval development is completed in 4 weeks.
(Coenagrion pulchellum)
In males, the abdominal segments are predominantly black on top; only the front part of the segment is blue, and one of the segments on top is entirely black. The end of the abdomen is almost entirely blue, with the exception of black tail appendages.
In females, all abdominal segments are usually two-colored - mostly black, but with a green spot in the front. The abdomen is long and thin. Body length up to 35 mm, wingspan up to 50 mm.
Dragonflies fly from early May until autumn near a variety of stagnant bodies of water. Eggs are laid in the underwater parts of living plants. The larvae are slender and can live in both clean and swampy water bodies. They have a translucent body, making them almost invisible among aquatic vegetation. This allows them to hide from enemies.
GRANDFAMILY FAMILY (Gomphidae)
Medium-sized dragonflies with transparent, unpatterned wings. The eyes on the crown are widely spaced. The hind wings of males have a rounded notch at the base; in females they are smoothly rounded. Dragonflies often fly far from bodies of water and stay on the edges and forest clearings. To lay eggs, females choose flowing water bodies with a sandy, muddy or rocky bottom. They fly over the surface of such bodies of water, periodically lowering the end of their abdomen into the water. At this moment they lay an egg. The larvae live at the bottom of reservoirs, have a dense body and digging legs. With their help, they bury themselves in sand or silt. They feed on bottom-dwelling insect larvae, worms and small mollusks.
(Gomphus vulgatissimus)
The eyes are bluish-green, separated by a yellow forehead. The chest is yellow, with oblique black stripes. The abdomen is black, with yellow spots on the sides, and a yellow longitudinal line on top. Legs are black. Body length 45-50 mm, wingspan up to 70 mm.
Dragonflies live only 4 weeks, flying from early May to late July. In the spring they are found on the edges of forests and clearings, in the summer they stay near reservoirs, rivers, canals, forest lakes with a sandy or muddy bottom. Females lay eggs directly in the water. The larvae stay on the bottom and are not associated with vegetation. They develop over 2-3 years.
(Onychogomphus forcipatus)
The eyes are green. The main body color is dark brown and black. The head has a yellow spot on the front. There are yellow curved stripes on the chest. The abdomen is black, with yellow spots. The legs are black, brownish at the base. In males, the end of the abdomen is expanded. Body length up to 55 mm, wingspan up to 75 mm.
Dragonflies fly in June-July. Eggs are laid directly in water. The larvae live on sandy or rocky areas of the bottom, often in rivers with fast currents. The development of larvae lasts 3-4 years.
Grandflies are one of our most common dragonflies.
ROCKER ARM FAMILY (Aeschnidae)
Large, motley-colored dragonflies, one of the most beautiful representatives of the order, Eyes on the crown of the head touch. The wings at rest are directed to the sides. Rocker arms can fly for hours without rest. At this time, they often fly far from bodies of water. Females lay eggs in living or dead plant tissues, dipping the end of their abdomen into the water. The larvae are active predators, sometimes attacking even fish fry. In some species, development is completed in 1 year, in others it lasts up to 4 years.
(Aeschna grandis)
The main body color is brownish-red. The wings are golden brown, with reddish veins. The chest is on top between the wings with 4 blue spots, on the sides - with yellow stripes. The abdomen of males has blue spots on the sides and white spots on top. In females, the spots on the abdomen are light gray. Body length 70-80 mm, wingspan up to 105 mm.
Dragonflies are found from late June to September. Their flight is characterized by the fact that they often glide. They fly not only during the day, but also after sunset. Females lay eggs in dead plant tissue submerged in water, or in accumulations of dead plant parts near the shores of water bodies.
The larvae reach a length of 50 mm and develop in 2-3 years. They prefer stagnant or low-flowing water bodies. They live among aquatic vegetation.
(Apah imperator)
The eyes are greenish-blue above and yellow-green below. The chest is greenish, without stripes. Females have golden-yellow wings, while males have colorless wings. In males, the abdomen is blue, with large blackish-brown spots; in females, it is bluish-green, with larger spots, with a reddish-brown tint. Body length up to 80 mm, wingspan up to 110 mm.
Dragonflies fly from mid-June to August. They can be found along the banks of small ponds and other standing and low-flowing overgrown bodies of water. Females lay eggs mainly in dead, submerged parts of plants. The larvae live among aquatic vegetation. Within a year they reach a length of 60 mm and complete their development.
(Brachytron hafniense)
The dragonfly is covered in dense whitish hairs, hence its name. The eyes of males are blue, those of females are yellowish-brown. The chest is brownish-red on top, with 2 wide greenish-yellow longitudinal stripes. The sides of the chest are green, with 2 oblique black stripes. Legs are black. The abdomen of males is black, with blue spots and narrow transverse green stripes. Females have yellow spots on their abdomen.
Body length up to 65 mm, wingspan up to 80 mm.
Dragonflies fly in May-July. For laying eggs, they choose small stagnant and low-flowing reservoirs, including swampy ones.
The larvae are massive and live among dead parts of aquatic plants. They develop very slowly and overwinter three times.
(Aeschna cyanea)
The eyes of males are greenish-blue, those of females are yellowish-green. On the forehead there is a characteristic black spot in the shape of the letter T. The chest is brown on top, with 2 wide green longitudinal stripes, on the sides it is green, with a black pattern. Males have a black abdomen, with green dorsal and blue lateral spots; on the last abdominal segments all spots are blue. Females have a brownish-red abdomen with green spots or light gray with light blue spots. Body length 65-80 mm, wingspan up to 110 mm.
Dragonflies are found from mid-June until late autumn. Females often fly in the evenings. They prefer large standing reservoirs, ponds and overgrown lakes.
The larvae live among aquatic plants. The development of larvae lasts 2 years. By the end of development they reach a length of 50 mm.
FAMILY CORDULEGASTERIDES (Cordulegasteridae)
One of our largest and most beautiful dragonflies. The body is motley, the wings are transparent, directed to the sides at rest. The eyes connect at the crown of the head at only one point. They prefer flowing waters, including fast-flowing streams and mountain lakes. Dragonflies fly near bodies of water and often rest on plants. Eggs are laid in the sandy or rocky soil of reservoirs. In this case, the female bends her abdomen vertically downwards and, during low flight, plunges the ovipositor into the ground 70-75 times per minute.
(Cordulegaster annulipes)
The eyes are green. The body is black, on the chest there are 2 median and 4 lateral yellow stripes. Abdomen with yellow spots and stripes. Body length up to 85 mm, wingspan 90-105 mm.
Dragonflies are found from the beginning of June until the end of August.
The larvae lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle in flowing water bodies. They bury themselves in the sand so that only their eyes and dorsal part of the body are visible. They winter several times.
The species is widespread in the European part of the USSR, found mainly in areas with hilly and mountainous terrain.
GRANDMA'S FAMILY (Corduliidae)
Medium-sized or large dragonflies. The body is metallic shiny, one color or with few spots. The wings are usually transparent, sometimes colored. There is often a dark spot at the base of the hind wings. The eyes touch, their posterior edge with a protrusion. The female lays eggs by flying over the water and striking its surface with the end of her abdomen. The larvae are short and thick and live at the bottom of reservoirs.
The body of the larvae is covered with particles of bottom sediments, which make the larva completely invisible.
(Epitheca bimaculata)
The chest is light brown. The abdomen is yellowish-brown, without a metallic sheen, with a bluish stripe on top. The leading edge of the wings is intense yellow. The hind wings have black spots at the base. Body length 55-60 mm, wingspan up to 95 mm.
Dragonflies are distinguished by their fast and beautiful flight. Their flight periods are relatively short - from late May to mid-June. The dragonfly lives only 2 weeks. The female lays eggs in the water in the form of a long cord, which she releases during low flight when the end of her abdomen touches the surface of the water. The larvae lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. They complete development in 2-3 years.
(Cordulia aenea)
The body is metallic shiny, green, without light spots. The eyes are greenish. Chest with light pubescence. Hind wings with a dark spot at the base. Body length up to 55 mm, wingspan 65-75 mm.
They are found near a variety of bodies of water, usually in cloudy weather or in the evening. Dragonflies appear in early May and fly until August. Females lay eggs in water. The larvae lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle in stagnant bodies of water overgrown with vegetation. They overwinter 2-3 times.
(Somatochlora metallica)
The body is green, metallic shiny. In females, the base of the abdomen is bluish. There is a dark ring on the second abdominal segment. In addition, females have 2 large white spots on the next segment. The wings along the anterior edge are yellowish, especially in females. Body length up to 60 mm, wingspan 70-75 mm.
Dragonflies can be found from late May throughout the summer and autumn. They fly near standing and low-flowing bodies of water and are often found in wetlands and peat bogs. Dragonflies often fly into the forest to the edges and clearings.
Eggs are usually laid in peat, moss, and accumulations of dead plants in the coastal zone of water bodies.
The larvae are massive and live on the muddy bottom of stagnant and low-flowing water bodies. The development of larvae lasts 2-3 years.
DRAGONFLY FAMILY REAL (Libellulidae)
Dragonflies are medium-sized, colored red, yellow, brown and black, without a metallic sheen. At rest, the wings are directed to the sides and slightly shifted forward. The hind wings, and sometimes also the front wings, have a dark spot at the base. Females lay eggs in water or coastal sand. The larvae are massive and live at the bottom of reservoirs.
(Libellula depressa)
This species gets its name from its widened and flattened abdomen. The eyes are brown above and yellowish-green below. The chest is yellowish-brown, with two light yellow or greenish longitudinal stripes on top. There is a triangular black spot at the base of the fore and hind wings. The abdomen of males is densely covered with blue pollen, while that of females is yellowish-brown, with black lateral lines. Body length up to 45 mm, wingspan up to 80 mm.
Dragonflies fly from early May to August. Females lay eggs directly into the water, touching the surface of the reservoir with their ovipositor during low flight. The larvae are massive, live at the bottom of small stagnant or low-flowing reservoirs with a clay or silty bottom. During dry periods, such reservoirs sometimes dry up; at this time, the larvae burrow into the silt and wait out the dry period until new rains. The duration of larval development is up to 2 years.
(Orthetrum cancellatum)
Males and females have yellowish or yellowish-brown breasts. Females have a yellowish abdomen, with wide longitudinal brown stripes and lighter semilunar spots. In males, the color of the abdomen is different: at the beginning of their life, the color of the abdomen is similar to that of females; later, the abdomen of males is covered with blue pollen, with the exception of the very end, which becomes grayish-black. Body length up to 50 mm, wingspan up to 90 mm.
Dragonflies are found from late May until late autumn. They fly near a wide variety of bodies of water - from large lakes to small ponds and canals. They often sit down to rest directly on the ground. Females lay eggs in the water while flying, striking the surface of the water with the tip of the ovipositor.
The larvae prefer bottom areas rich in vegetation and decaying plant material. Duration of development - 2 years.
(Sympetrum flaveolum)
Males have a brownish-red chest and a dark red abdomen. Females are entirely yellowish-brown. Both males and females have black lateral intermittent stripes on the abdomen, and at the very end there is a black median stripe. The base of the wings is yellow in both sexes, but females may lack yellow spots. In males, the eyes are brownish-red above and gray below; In females, the eyes are brownish on top. Body length up to 35 mm, wingspan up to 60 mm.
Dragonflies fly in the second half of summer and autumn. Eggs are laid in water or on moist coastal soil during flight. Females either drop their eggs from a small height or lay them when their abdomen touches water or soil. The larvae develop among aquatic vegetation in stagnant bodies of water and complete development in one year.
(Sympetrum pedemontanum)
Males have a brownish-red chest, while females have a greyish-brown chest. The color of the abdomen also differs well, which is bright red in males and yellowish-brown in females. Particularly characteristic are the wings, which have a wide transverse brownish band. Body length up to 35 mm, wingspan up to 55 mm.
Dragonflies fly from mid-July until late autumn. They usually fly low over vegetation and blend into the background with their colors and spotted wings.
Females lay eggs on moist soil or in water during low flight. The larvae live in stagnant, overgrown ponds. Larval development is completed in one year.
Small bodies of water in which the larvae of this and other related species live often dry up. Therefore, the larvae have adaptations for breathing not only in water, but also on land - atmospheric air. To breathe in a pond, larvae use special rectal gills located in hindgut. In case of temporary drying out of reservoirs, the larvae do not die. During this period, they breathe through spiracles - special openings on the sides of the segments, the largest on the chest.
(Sympetrum sanguineum)
In mature males, the chest is orange-red on top, yellowish-brown on the sides, the abdomen is blood-red on top, with a yellowish tint on the sides, dark below, with red spots. The young male's chest is yellowish-brown on top and yellowish-green on the sides, the abdomen is yellowish, covered with a white coating below. In a young female, the abdomen is yellowish or red-brown; in a mature female, the sides are covered with a bluish coating. Body length up to 40 mm, wingspan 50-60 mm.
Dragonflies fly from late July to late autumn. Eggs are laid in the water of shallow, stagnant, often drying up reservoirs. The larvae live among aquatic vegetation and develop in 2-3 months.
Adult dragonflies are constantly found along roads, in forest clearings, and near various bodies of water.
(Leucorrhinia pectoralis)
The chest is black, with light median stripes and lateral spots, and yellow between the wings. The base of the wings is reddish. Hind wings with a small black spot at the base. The abdomen is black with large light spots. The end of the abdomen is black. Body length up to 45 mm, wingspan up to 65 mm.
Dragonflies fly from early May to early August. Eggs are laid directly in the water of various swampy reservoirs overgrown with aquatic vegetation. The larvae develop among marsh vegetation and are less common in ponds or river creeks.
In autumn, adult dragonflies of this group die. At this time, they accumulate along roads, near poles and fences, where specimens suitable for collection can easily be found.