Stor kærguldsmed
(Leucorrhinia pectoralis)

The five European species of Whitefaces (genus: Leucorrhinia) can be divided into two groups: those whose males are black and red and whose appendages are black, and those whose males are black (albeit partially covered with a whitish pruinescence) and whose appendages are white. The females and young males are always black and yellow and their appendages too are either black or white depending on the species. All five species have a largely North-Eastern European distribution, with the Small Whiteface (Leucorrhinia dubia) perhaps venturing furthest South. The Yellow-Spotted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia pectoralis) is the largest and most robust-looking species of the genus. In the field it is readily identifiable by the large, bright yellow spot on S7 (although with age this brightness may be reduced) and by the breadth of the female's abdomen.

For an overview of the Yellow-Spotted Whiteface's distribution in Europe, hover your mouse pointer over the map symbol .
With the authors' permission we have based this map on data published in Kalkman et al. (2010).

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