Successful reproduction in Belgium of the damselfly Lestes barbarus (Fabricius, 1798) (Odonata Lestidae)
1997
Stoks, R. (Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen (Belgium). Dept. of Biology. Evolutionary Biology Group) | Block, M. de
Lestes barbarus (Odonata: Zygoptera) completes its life cycle in Belgium. Formerly, this species was thought to wander from Southern France to Belgium every year. For three consecutive years small populations were present at Merchtem and Wilrijk. The species was found ovipositing in Juncus effusus. During a larval survey in June 1996 several ultimate and penultimate instars were found at both sites. These observations raise the number of Lestidae reproducing successfully in Belgium to five. Although Lestes larvae seem unable to coexist with fish, our results show that coexistence with newts is possible. A limiting factor in the larval distribution of L. barbarus may be competition with L. sponsa. The emergence pattern suggests a latitudinal temporal gradient in emergence, as in L. sponsa where emergence begins earlier in warmer southern areas.
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