- Family: Libellulidae.
- Scientific: Brachythemis leucosticta.
- English: Southern banded groundling.
- Spanish:
Description
The Southern banded groundling – Brachythemis leucosticta is a small species with an overall body color that ranges from yellowish to blackish-brown. The face of young males and females is yellowish-cream, and the thorax and abdomen are yellow-greenish with noticeable brown or black marks. As they age, males become black, and females become brown.
The legs are yellowish with black bands, and the wings of mature males have a transverse brown band just before the pterostigma. The pterostigma is a darkened cell on the leading edge of the insect wing, elongated (about 3 mm) and bicolored (light and dark brown in the apical third). The abdomen is short and moderately wide, flattened dorso-ventrally, and each segment has dark lateral marks.
- Total length: 33mm.
- Wingspan: 57 mm.
- Flight period in Iberia: May to October.
- Habitat: open low grassland and shrubland close to lakes and ponds.
- Distribution: An African species but widespread across the Iberian peninsular especially Andalucia.
- Similar species:
The Southern banded groundling – Brachythemis leucosticta has a habit of following large mammals as they move across fields and even humans as they walk along the edges of marshland and lakes. they take advantage of the prey that arise from the movements. (Similar to cattle egrets when they take advantage of livestock grazing through meadows and fields.)
Further reading
- Interesting that many specialized sites do not mention Spain as a distribution area for this species: http://thebdi.org/2020/05/25/southern-banded-groundling-brachythemis-leucosticta/
- Study about the ‘Accompanying’ behaviour of Brachythemis leucosticta https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299019746_%27Accompanying%27_behaviour_of_Brachythemis_leucosticta_Burmeister_in_Europe_Anisoptera_Libellulidae
Ronda Today
Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/
The Caminito del Rey
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Wildside Holidays – Spain
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Iberia Nature Forum
Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!
Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain.