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Calopteryx splendens (Banded Demoiselle / Bantlı Kızböceği)

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Calopteryx splendens (Banded Demoiselle / Bantlı Kızböceği)


Calopteryx splendens ssp. intermedia (Banded Demoiselle / Bantlı Kızböceği) [Female/Dişi] from Ürünlü, Kırklareli - 16.07.2009.

This damselfly is most familiar riverine (streamside) odonate. It is a variable species and numerous forms have been named. It is also one of the largest damselfly species with a total length of 45-48mm (Abdomen length: 33-41 mm, Hindwing span: 27-36mm). Males are metallic blue with a dark blue band across each wing (actually brown, crossed by metallic blue veins). In extreme cases, wing markings may be absent, although the metallic veins still make the wings appear blue. Male 'tail-light' (underside 8th to10th abdominal segments) is bright yellow to greyish white, with a black stripe along the middle of 8th and usually 9th abdominal segment. 10th abdominal segment is often whitish pruinose in older males. Typical females are less conspicuous, with metallic green body and veins, clear greenish wings (not tinted brown) and usually a white pseudopterostigma. In andromorph females, which have male wing colours, the wing band contrasts with the white pseudopterostigma (which males lack).

Variations: Wing markings are present at emergence, but not yet fully coloured. The extent of the male wing colour varies widely individually and geographically. Many subspecies have been based on this variation, but there is much variation within these and also broad zones of introgression between them. Unbanded C. splendens populations (recalling C. exul-Glittering Demoiselle) occur. Palest ones have very restricted, often circular, wing spots: the clear tip is about half as wide as the spot. These are found in the Crimea (taurica), but also in parts of Denmark, Ireland and the Danube Valley. The darkest form (intermedia) occurs along Turkey's south-eastern coast: the colour includes the wing tip (like C. xanthostoma-Western Demoiselle) and descends to about halfway between the wing base and node. Locally (e.g. near Adana) all females are andromorph, but westwards along the coast andromorph frequency drops, and the wing bands become shorter; west of Antalya the tips develop a clear fringe. The similar balcanica occurs from the Greek islands and Peloponnese, along the Dalmatian coast to Croatia. Intermediate forms inhabit the rest of Europe. Darker ones, with rather narrow clear tips, occur on Crete (the robust, genetically distinctive cretensis), in Italy (caprai) and in a broad swathe roughly between the Black, Caspian and Baltic Seas (ancilla) There is much variation in wing coloration and female forms in these areas, e.g. andromorhes become rare as one moves north in Italy. In south-west France and along the Ligurian coast, ssp. caprai encounters (and may hybridise with) C xanthostoma. In large areas (e.g. Great Britain, much of France and Germany) the typical splendens occurs with a fairly narrow band that extends from 1- 3mm basal of the node to about 2-5mm from the wing tip. Finally, the splendens-like amasina extends north of intermedia and balcanica in Turkey and the southern Balkans.

Banded Demoiselle is often found numerous, extending to Lake Baikal and north-west China. Being conspicuous, wandering males are often noted far from suitable habitat. It prefers the most (partially) open running waters, avoiding cold torrents, high mountains and deep shade, and scarce on large rivers. The flight season includes the late April to October in the south; May to August in the north.

Reference: 1. Chinery, M. (1986). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe, Collins, Glasgow, 320 pp. 2. Dijkstra K.-D. (2006). Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe including Western Turkey and noth-Western Africa. British Wildlife Publishing, Dorset, UK. 320 pp. 3. ARKive.

Author Bayram GÖÇMEN
Created on Saturday 16 July 2011
Posted on Tuesday 12 July 2011
Tags Kırklareli, TURKEY / TÜRKİYE
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