| Actual Image
Gold on the wing (46)
uleko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (24475) | Downy emerald - Cordulia aenea
This dragonfly is one of the earliest to emerge here in south Sweden. This one is very fresh and although the metallic green and brown color on the thorax and abdumen are already developed, the eyes are still beige and non-descript while soon they’ll have a lovely bright and shiny green colour. Its thorax is coated with fine hairs, hence its name. In Swedish its name is Gold Dragonfly due to the golden markings at the base of the hind wings that can most clearly be seen in the WORKSHOP where a pair is in copula. These markings are lacking in the Brilliant Emerald (Somatochlora metallica) that is very similar to this species.
It is a common species, infact, we saw at least 60 newly emerged specimens at the same time. It is
found near lakes and ponds where the female lays her eggs in water and its larvae are aquatic. After its emergance, it lives for three years at various larval and nymphal stages and when fully emerged only flies for a couple of months.
In Sweden it flies from May through July each year. It is found in most of Europe.
Both capture were taken from a distance of about 1 metre with the camera handheld. They've been cropped and sharpenedand the levels adjusted. |
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