Yellow-spotted white-faced darter
Leucorrhinia pectoralis (Charpentier, 1825)
Order Dragonflies (Odonata)
Family Skimmer dragonflies (Libellulidae)
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Extinct EX.
General distribution. From Northeastern France to the Altai Mts. In the south it occurs up to 38° N in Turkey.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. It has been reported only two times for the country after adults from Sofia in July [1] and from Srebarna Reserve in May and August [2]. It was not found in Bulgaria during the last 40 years. In the same period, an appropriate habitat for the species in Sofia did not exist any more, and in Srebarna it was not recorded after many searches.
Habitats. Marshes and lakes. In Switzerland, mesotrophic, slightly acid or neutral water bodies, overgrown with surface flowing vegetation such as Potamogeton natans and overgrown along the shores with Equisetum limosum [3].
Biology. In Bulgaria unknown. The mature males perch on shore plants, waiting for a potential prey or a sexual partner. Mating takes place first in the air and then in resting position [4]. The eggs are laid on the shore vegetation, usually between the stems of Equisetum or Carex.
Similar species. Leucorrhinia dubia, from which it differs well with the bright yellow spot on the dorsal part of the seventh abdominal segment of the adult.
Negative factors. Unknown for Bulgaria.
Conservation measures taken. None.
References. 1. Petkov, 1921; 2. Beschovski, 1965; 3. Wildermuth et al., 2005; 4. D'Aguilar et al., 1986.
Author: Alexi Popov
