Species account

Dark Whiteface (Leucorrhinia albifrons)    (Burmeister, 1839)
   Skimmers (Libellulidae) [Dragonflies]    DAWH    24826
Østlig Kærguldsmed (dk)   Pudrad Kärrtrollslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Eastern White-faced Darter (gb)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula leucorhinus Charpentier, 1840
Libellula aurata Prueffer, 1923
Leucorrhinia polimaculata Belyshev, 1955
Leucorrhinia obensis Belyshev, 1973
Measurements:
To 33-39mm Ab 22-27mm Hw 23-31mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Eyes seem greener/brighter than Lilypad.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Mating lasts a few minutes and takes place in the vegetation near the water, or on the ground. The lone female then flies forth and back along the shore dropping the eggs into the water where plenty of water plants. The eggs hatch after a few weeks and the larvae live in-between plants in shallow water and develop during 1-3 years [the number of years might change within each population depending on weather and environment?]. The imago-transformation takes place near the water.
Distribution:
C and NE Europe from France to Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine and southern Fennoscandinavia. Also present locally through Russia to the Altai mountains. In Denmark extinct but former breeder in the 1960s in NE Sjælland.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Host plants:
Tørvemos (Sphagnum)
Endemic:
Status
Bern Convention. EU Habitat Directive IV. In Denmark localized breeder in the 1960s at Store Gribsø, Sjælland and perhaps also seen in same area in 1975, but after this not seen until discovered on Bornholm in 2018. Then absent in 2019 and 2020, to be re-found at the same site in 2021-23, Safirsøen, where up to 15 males have been spotted on the same day. Overspill from Sweden or arrived from across the Baltic Sea? In the past the species has probably been more widespread in the country, as well as rest of Europe, before the intensive landscape alterations destroyed its preferred habitats. 2024 and 2025 none were found.
Comment:
Articles:
Dark Whiteface 519    (1 photos)
2021-07-06    Sorthat Skovområde (bornholm), Denmark

Imago Male
Safirsøen.
Some 7, I think, were reported a good week ago, and I had to go. A new species after all, and being the only reliable place in Denmark to get it.

Unmistakable when seen well. Rather confident when perching in the bushes alongside the western shore of the lake (only partly accessible). I estimated to have seen 3 males in all and no females.



Dark Whiteface 520    (2 photos)
2021-07-06    Sorthat Skovområde (bornholm), Denmark

Imago Male
Safirsøen.
When seen well only possible to confuse with ultra-rare (in Denmark) Lilypad Whiteface. Dark has white mouth parts and the wing marks of Lilypad male, are white above and black below, whereas both sides are black on Dark.



Dark Whiteface 521    (3 photos)
2021-07-06    Sorthat Skovområde (bornholm), Denmark

Imago Male
Safirsøen.
The white upper appendages is a character only shared with Lilypad Whiteface.



Dark Whiteface 522    (1 photos)
2021-07-06    Sorthat Skovområde (bornholm), Denmark

Imago Male
Safirsøen.
Four different photo sets of males this day doesn't mean that I saw four individuals, but that I managed four different shooting sessions. Scrutiny will very likely reveal some of them the same.
Dark Whiteface 1622    (10 photos)
2023-06-08    Grundsjön (Skåne), Sweden

Imago Male & Female
I id'ed this pair per default as a caudalis [Åkande-Kærguldsmed] because all the other leucorrhinia animals I saw were of that species. But looking closer, the restricted pruinose on the male abdomen and the rather slender tail, and the fact that it could look like the upperside of the wing marks is black combined with a female that also shows a slender abdomen tip and restricted yellow marks on the segments make it a better choice. The paler greener eye might also be a feature to look out for when separating the two.

Mating and detaching with the female staying put after the show...