Yellow-spotted emerald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-spotted emerald |
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The Somatochlora flavomaculata, also known as the yellow-spotted emerald, is a common type of dragonfly. It belongs to the Corduliidae family, which are often called "emerald dragonflies." You can find these dragonflies across a wide area, from France all the way to Siberia and Mongolia. They especially like to live in wetlands, which are areas like marshes or swamps. Male yellow-spotted emeralds are known for protecting their own space.
What Does the Yellow-Spotted Emerald Look Like?
Most emerald dragonflies are shiny green, but the yellow-spotted emerald is special. It has bright yellow spots on its body. These spots are found on its thorax (the middle part of its body) and its abdomen (the long tail-like part).
Female dragonflies usually have the biggest spots. When these dragonflies are young, their spots are very bright. As they get older, the spots on their abdomen can get darker. Sometimes, they might even almost disappear!
This dragonfly looks a bit like another species called the Somatochlora metallica, or brilliant emerald. However, the yellow-spotted emerald has more yellow on the top and sides of its abdomen. It is also smaller than the brilliant emerald.
How Do Yellow-Spotted Emeralds Behave?
Male yellow-spotted emeralds are very protective of their territory. They guard areas like dry plants, paths near bushes and trees, and open spots in reedbeds. They also protect areas around water.
When it's time for them to have babies, the males often fly back and forth over the water. When a male and female mate, they form a shape that looks like a wheel. This "mating wheel" can sometimes be seen circling above reedbeds for several minutes.
Where Do Yellow-Spotted Emeralds Live?
The yellow-spotted emerald is commonly found in wetlands across Europe. Its home range stretches from northern France all the way to Siberia and Mongolia in Asia.
This species was first officially seen in the United Kingdom in 2018. A wildlife photographer named Andrew Easton discovered it at Carlton and Oulton Marshes. He asked people on Twitter to help identify the dragonfly. Scientists think that strong easterly winds might have carried the dragonfly to the UK. This is interesting because these dragonflies are not known for traveling very long distances on their own.
Scientists have also used the presence of the yellow-spotted emerald to understand how many different types of species live in the boreal forests of central Sweden.
