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Crocothemis erythraea (Broad Scarlet Dragonfly / Kızıl Yusufcuk, Kırmızı Teyyare)

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Crocothemis erythraea (Broad Scarlet Dragonfly / Kızıl Yusufcuk, Kırmızı Teyyare)


Crocothemis erythraea (Broad Scarlet Dragonfly / Kızıl Yusufcuk, Kırmızı Teyyare) [Male/Erkek] from Bornova, İzmir - 23.06.2009.

Dragonfilies (Odonota: Anisoptera) stouter than damselflies and with hing wings broader than front. Eyes usually meet on top of head. Wings held more or less flat at rest; never brought together either hawking up and down for long periods (hawkers) or perching for long periods and periodically darting off to snatch prey (darters). Libellulidae is one of the large families of the dragonflies (darters) in which triangles are of different shapes in front and hind wings. That of forewing has front side very much shorter than basal side. Mature males often with pale blue pruinescence. Claspers are sometimes prominent in females. Often they perch on exposed twig or reed and rest with body horizontal. In hot weather the wings may be lowered to shade thorax. Most of Eurasian species belong to the genus Sympetrum, in which the last antenodal vein is usually incomplete.

Crocothemis erythraea: It resembles Sympetrum spp., but broader: last antenodal vein mayor may not be complete. Body yellow or brown at first, becoming red with age: especially vivid in male. No trace of black on upper surface (but dead specimens may show black line along abdomen). Costa and radius red: other veins black. Patch on hind wing orange or red in male, yellow in female. It likes to perch on bare twig or reed. It prefers still waters, including Mediterranean rice fields. It is mainly an African species that extends into adjacent Eurasia and found in Southern parts, occasionally central Europe. It is common and widespread in the whole of Africa, western Asia and the south of our area, but still quite local away from the Mediterranean, gradually expanding northwards. Two generations per year in southernmost areas. Total length changes between 36 and 45mm, Abdomen length is 18-33mm. At all ages the wings are clear, with a larger amber patch at the hindwing base. This patch, the broad body and the absence of black on the legs, head and thorax separate this species from almost all others.

References: 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. Beaton, G. (2007). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Soustheast. University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia, 355 pp. 4. Dragonfly (Wikipedia).

Author Bayram GÖÇMEN
Created on Tuesday 23 June 2009
Posted on Tuesday 12 July 2011
Tags İzmir, TURKEY / TÜRKİYE
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