Leucorrhinia pectoralis

The fairy horse Leucorrhinia pectoralis belongs to the family Libellulidae (class Insecta). While the genus Leucorrhinia in Europe is represented by 5 species, in R.N. Macedonia is registered only the species Leucorrhinia pectoralis - the largest dragonfly in the genus. It has a dark colored body and a white forehead. The body length varies from 32 to 39 [mm] in, while the maximum wing span is 66 [mm]. In young males and females, the abdomen is interspersed with intense yellow spots that extend along the entire length of the segment. In males, the heel darkens in the stage of sexual maturation, and with aging they turn reddish-brown, with the exception of the heel of the 7th abdominal segment, which remains bright yellow to orange. This feature best distinguishes Leucorrhinia pectoralis from other species in the genus. The development of the larvae takes place in water from where after 2 ÷ 3 years they develop into adults that fly from the beginning of May to July.   Leucorrhinia pectoralis is found from western Europe to western Siberia (the easternmost population ever found in Novosibirsk and the Altai Mountains in Russia). In the south, the territory of this species extends through the Caucasus Mountains to southwestern Asia. A small number of populations are also registered in western Turkey. It inhabits peatlands, swamps, ponds and other small aquatic habitats where there are no fish and the vegetation is lush. In R.N. Macedonia it is found only in Prespa and in NP Ezerani and Stenjsko Blato (within the borders of the National Park Galicica). It is listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitat Directive and Annex II of the Berne Convention.