Bimacchiata (Epitheca bimaculata)
• English name: Eurasian Baskettail
• German name: Zweifleck
• French name: Epithèque bimaculée
• Dutch name: Tweevlek
• Swedish name: Tvåfläckad trollslända
• Norwegian name: Toflekkøyenstikker
• Finnish name: Liitokorento
• Danish name: Toplettet falkelibel
• Italian name: Bimacchiata
• Czech name: lesklice velká
• Slovenian name: Nosna jezerka
• Bulgarian name: Двупетнисто кехлибарче
Bimacchiata
(Epitheca bimaculata)
Not present
Present before 1990
Present after 1990
Present before and after 1990
Present after 2015
Map data based on J.-P. Boudot & V. J. Kalkman (eds.),
Atlas of the European Dragonflies and Damselflies
| General | • a large, stout, light-brown species of central and eastern Europe | |
| Classification | • suborder: Anisoptera (dragonflies); family: Corduliidae | |
| Conservation status | • IUCN Red List Europe: Least Concern | |
| Scientific name | • Epitheca bimaculata (Charpentier, 1825) | |
| Name genus | • Epitheca: from Grk. ἐπί = on, over +; θήκη = sheath, scabbard ⇒ for the female's very large vulvar scale | |
| Name species | • bimaculata: from Lat. bi- = twice +; maculatus, -a, -um = spotted ⇒ for the two large dark spots at the hindwing bases | |
| Distribution | • click or tap the Map button above | |
| Habitat | • lakes, gravel pits, fish ponds, etc. in forested areas | |
| Dimensions | • typical body length: 55-65 mm; hindwing: 36-44 mm | |
| Notes | • cordulids are 'fliers': they spend a lot of time on the wing and seldom hang up for a rest | |
| • adults tend to forage and rest high up in trees; they are difficult to find and photograph at rest | ||
| • considerably larger than the similar Libellula quadrimaculata and L. fulva | ||
| Both sexes | Head | • the eyes are brown |
| Thorax | • the thorax is brown with bold black stripes on the side | |
| Abdomen | ➤ the abdomen is brown with large black mid-dorsal patches on S3-S8; S9-S10 are (mostly) black | |
| Wings | ➤ the base of the hindwing bears a large dark patch (which contrasts sharply with the white membranule) | |
| • in immature animals the wings have a suffused orange tint | ||
| Legs | • the all-black legs are remarkably long | |
| Male | Abdomen | • the secondary genitalia are very large |
| Female | Abdomen | • the vulvar scale is very large |
| Photographs | • all of our photos below were made in northern France and Bavaria |
