Onychogomphus forcipatus

Onychogomphus forcipatus, the small pincertail or green-eyed hook-tailed dragonfly, is a species of dragonfly belonging to the family Gomphidae.[1]

Onychogomphus forcipatus
Male, Bulgaria
Onychogomphus forcipatus var. unguiculatus, female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Hexapoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Odonata
Family:
Gomphidae
Genus:
Onychogomphus
Species:
O. forcipatus
Binomial name
Onychogomphus forcipatus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • Libellula forcipata Linnaeus, 1758

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[2]

  • Onychogomphus forcipatus var. albotibialis Schmidt, 1954
  • Onychogomphus forcipatus var. forcipatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Onychogomphus forcipatus var. unguiculatus (Vander Linden, 1820)

Distribution

This quite common and widespread dragonfly is present in most of Europe, in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Turkmenistan.[3][4]

Habitat

These dragonflies usually inhabit clean rivers with a little faster running water and gravel or sandy banks. Occasionally they are also present at large lakes.[5]

Description

The adults of Onychogomphus forcipatus grow up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long, with a wingspan of 5.5–7.5 centimetres (2.2–3.0 in). The eyes of these medium-sized dragonflies are widely separated and grey-to-green. The two black lines on the side of the thorax are relatively narrow and touch the midline. It has a yellow line on the vertex and two cells above the anal triangle. The abdomen in males is fitted with three hooks of large size (anal appendages). Cercoids may be dark and have a subterminal tooth. The base of the hindwing is angled in males and rounded in females.

This species is rather similar to Onychogomphus uncatus. The two species can be distinguished on the basis of the shape and extension of the black markings, especially on the thorax and on the last abdominal segments.

Biology

Adults can be encountered close to running water and lakes from June through September.[5] In Southern Europe, the emergence period typically begins in April. In Cyprus, the flight season of the subspecies O. f. albotibialis is from late March to October.[6] This subspecies is callified as a Near-threatened species.[7] After the mating the females lay about 500 eggs into the water. Larvae dig and live buried in the bottom. Their life cycle from egg to imago lasts about 3–5 years.

  • Exuvia
    Exuvia
  • Female O. f. unguiculatus, close-up on head
    Female O. f. unguiculatus, close-up on head
  • Close-up on thorax, the two black lines touch the midline
    Close-up on thorax, the two black lines touch the midline
  • male O. f. albotibialis, Cyprus
    male O. f. albotibialis, Cyprus

References
  1. World Odonata List
  2. Biolib
  3. Fauna europaea
  4. IUCN
  5. Dragonflies and damselflies in Languedoc
  6. Sparrow, David J; Sparrow, Rosalyn & De Knijf, Geert, in: Sparrow, David J. and John, Eddie (Eds.) (2016). An Introduction to the Wildlife of Cyprus. Terra Cypria. ISBN 978-9963-601-45-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Smallshire, Dave & Andy Swash (2020). Europe's Dragonflies. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-16895-1.
  • Göran Sahlén - Eggshell ultrastructure in Onychogomphus forcipatus unguiculatus (Vander Linden) (Odonata: Gomphidae) - Section of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Uppsala University, Villavägen - International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology Volume 24, Issue 3, July 1995, Pages 281-286
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