Species account

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus)    (Linnaeus, 1758)
   Clubtails (Gomphidae) [Dragonflies]    SMPI    24811
Lille Tangguldsmed (dk)   Candil de Pinzas (es)   Stenflodtrollslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Green-eyed Hooktail (gb) Green-eyed Hook-tailed Dragonfly (gb) Alguacil-Pinzas (es)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula viridicincta Retzius, 1783
Libellula unguiculata Vander Linden, 1820
Aeschna hamata Charpentier, 1825
Aeschna hamata Charpentier, 1825
Gomphus siculus Selys, 1858
Gomphus forcipatus meridional Stein, 1863
Ophiogomphus consobrinus Kolbe, 1885
Ophiogomphus socialis Kolbe, 1885
Onychogomphus forcipatus albotibialis Schmidt, 1954
Onychogomphus forcipatus cypricus Schmidt, 1954
Onychogomphus forcipatus lucidostriatus Schmidt, 1954
Subspecies
albotibialis
Cyprus, Turkey and adjacent Greek islands. Less black on thorax than nominate. Details of lower male appendage.
forcipatus
Central and NE Europe. More black on thorax. Details of lower male appendage.
ungiuculatus
SW Europe and NW Africa. Less black on thorax than nominate. Details of lower male appendage.
Measurements:
To 46-55mm Ab 34-42mm Hw 25-37mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
After the mating the solo flying female drops the eggs into the water by dipping. The eggs hatch after 2-4 weeks. The larvae live buried in the bottom material and develop during 3-5 years. The imago-transformation is quick, an hour, and takes place on rocks or roots near the water, or directly on the ground.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent British Isles, Belgium, Netherlands, N Germany and Denmark. Also absent most of Norway and northern Sweden and Finland and Corsica and Sardinia. Also present NW Africa and eastward from Turkey, Ukraine and Russia to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In Denmark just seen once near Næstved, Sjælland in 1908.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status
The only Danish records of this species are from Susåen near Herlufsholm, Næstved. But they date back to 1908 and 1936 (https://www.naturbasen.dk/observation?id=1488889), but without knowledge about any established populations. Taking the healthy Swedish population into consideration, however, it might not be unrealistic to hope for a Danish re-discovery one day - Bornholm being a likely bet.
Comment:
1) Billqvist 2023 has larger measurements than other resources: To 46-55mm compared to Dijkstra-Schröter 2020 which says 46-50mm. And hindwing measurements respectively: Hw 25-37mm compared to Hw 25-30mm. A rather large difference, I think, making me speculate if an error has occurred or perhaps the Swedish animals are more variable than the ones in central Europe? Or perhaps the Swedish measurements are more correct for the species in general?
2) 20240914: A very late male in Östergötland, Sweden is outside the known flight period.
Small Pincertail 1511    (5 photos)
2023-06-05    Allgunnens Naturreservat (Kalmar), Sweden

Imago Female
Teneral. Lifer. We only found this one animal. Due to lack of time and the beginning of the flying period. Apparently only few teneral photos are around, why this is a good one!