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Species account
Four-spotted Chaser
(Libellula quadrimaculata)
Linnaeus (1758)
Skimmers (Libellulidae)
FSCH
24818
Fire-plettet Libel (dk)
Libélula de Cuatro Manchas (es)
Fyrfläckad Trollslända (se)
Synonyms: Four-spotted Skimmer (us)
Measurements:
To 40-48mm Ab 27-32mm Hw 32-40mm
Flight period:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identification:
V-shaped upper appendages on the male, in parallel on the female.
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating only lasts a short while and takes place in flight. The solo flying female then drops the eggs into the water from low height or by dipping the tail, over shallow water. Often the male watches over her during the process. The eggs hatch after a few weeks, and the larvae live in between the water plants or at the bottom and develop during 2-3 years (According to D. Paulson 2019 the larvae are mud dwellers, supported by the uplifted eyes and the uplifted backend for respiration out of the mud. Are both correct under different circumstances perhaps or is Ole F. Nielsen right/wrong?). The imago-transformation takes place close to the shore or up to 5-10 meters from it; in bushes or thickets. The transformation often takes place in the morning and as a mass-emergence within a few days at each locality.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent large parts of southern Iberian peninsula, central Scandinavian peninsula, southern part of the Mediterranean basin. Also present NW Africa, locally Greece and Turkey. Also east through the Asian continent from Russia to China and Japan. Also N America; mainly Alaska, southern part of Canada and the lower 48 except the SE states. In Denmark widespread in all regions.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Status:
LC(global)
LC(eu) LC(dk) One of the most common species in Denmark.
Comment:
European populations sometime increase to huge migrating numbers, something not seen in the N American populations.
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491
(1 photos)
2021-05-30 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Adult ♂ It looks like the appendages are close at the base, why I guess it is a male. Only one seen today. |
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619
(1 photos)
2021-06-07 Store Hareskov (nordsjælland), Denmark Imago ♂ Common. |
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620
(1 photos)
2021-06-07 Store Hareskov (nordsjælland), Denmark Imago ♂ |
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621
(1 photos)
2021-06-07 Store Hareskov (nordsjælland), Denmark Imago ♂ Perhaps the same as 622. |
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622
(1 photos)
2021-06-07 Store Hareskov (nordsjælland), Denmark Imago ♂ Perhaps the same as 621. |
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656
(1 photos)
2022-05-14 Gjerrild (djursland), Denmark Imago ♂ Shelter ponds. |
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950
(2 photos)
2022-07-12 Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden Imago ♂ Blanksjön. Form Praenubila with dark markings distally on the wings. |
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1383
(3 photos)
2023-05-12 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago ♂ Ehv-sporet. The first this year for me, enjoying the warm weather we have been blessed with. |
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1617
(1 photos)
2023-06-08 Grundsjön (Skåne), Sweden Imago ♂ Common here, but not as common as the Lilypad... |
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1544
(1 photos)
2023-06-15 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago ♂ Store Høj. The size of the nodal spots can vary considerably, here being larger than normal. There is also a tiny amount of smudging around the wing marks, which might indicate that the animal belongs to the form praenubila which shows dark tinting at the tip of the wings. |
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2887
(1 photos)
2024-07-25 Amager Fælled, Denmark Imago ♂ One of the species I tend to ignore when photographing later in the season. All dark-looking and often vary and keeping a distance are some of the reasons, but also the simple fact that they are less attractive visually plays a role. Here an individual with very limited node-spots, allowing for some confusion if you don't see the animal well enough. |
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487
(5 photos)
2021-05-29 Amager Fælled, Denmark Female because of the separate appendages at the base. Difficult animale to approach. Very wary. Lifer. |
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1236
(3 photos)
2021-06-05 Suserup Overdrev, Denmark Imago ♀ Teneral. |
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651
(2 photos)
2022-05-09 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago ♀ The first dragonfly in my season. And even an early animal generally. |
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655
(1 photos)
2022-05-14 Gjerrild (djursland), Denmark Imago ♀ Shelter ponds between Gjerrild and Sostrup. |
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667
(1 photos)
2022-05-22 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago ♀ Pinseskoven. Looks like the appendages are broken. How will that work? |
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1851
(1 photos)
2022-06-12 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago ♀ |
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951
(1 photos)
2022-07-12 Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden Imago ♀ Blanksjön. A normal form. |
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1478
(1 photos)
2023-06-05 Allgunnens Naturreservat (Kalmar), Sweden Imago ♀ Common throughout southern Sweden. |
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632
(1 photos)
2021-06-07 Store Hareskov (nordsjælland), Denmark Imago |
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2726
(2 photos)
2024-05-21 Kongelundsområdet, Denmark Imago DLK øst. Teneral. Was sitting in an awkward position between grass why I gave it a hand to spread out and dry well. Android photos. Hands on |