Platycnemis acutipennis - "Orange" White-legged Damselfly - Agrion orangé

Description

The male of this species is very attractive. It has a clear orange abdomen and white legs. The female is a pale, dull orange. Usually found by slow-flowing rivers.

Male at Lac du Salagou, 26th May 2004

Female at Lac du Salagou, 2nd July 2004

Pair in mating wheel (or heart) near the River Orb at Hérépian, 18th May 2008

Immature male, River Mare near St. Etienne, Hérault (34), 26th May 2004

Observations

26/05/2004   About a dozen males and females at Lac du Salagou, Hérault (34).

26/05/2004   A few males and females by the River Mare near St. Etienne-Estrachoux, Hérault (34).

13/06/2004   Solitary male at Lac du Salagou, Hérault (34).

14/07/2004   several males and females seen flying in tandem and ovipositing by the River Orb nearHérépian, Hérault (34).

28/05/2005   A few dozen including tandem and ovipositing pairs at a stream near Chateau de Grezan, Laurens (34)

01/06/2005   Several of both sexes (but no mating behaviour seen) on the River Mare, St-Etienne-d'Estrechoux (34)

19/06/2006   Males and females, a few in tandem, on River Orb, Hérépian (34)

15/07/2006   Three males on bushes near the River Orb between Hérépian and Bédarieux (34).

20/07/2006   A pair in tandem and a solitary male (later caught and eaten by a Gomphus pulchellus) at Lac de Bourdelet, Riols (34).

18/05/2008   1 pair in wheel and a solitary female near the River Orb at Hérépian

24/05/2008   10-30 seen near the River Orb at Hérépian including pairs in cop

10/07/2008   10+ males and females including pairs in tandem at the Plan d'eau near Lunas

09/06/2009   10-30 males and females including a few pairs in tandem over the Barrage des Olivettes and in nearby vegetation.

16/06/2009   100+ male and females includin pairs in tandem and ovipositing at the River Orb at Hérépian.