Libelloides species

[lisa]

I'm wondering if anyone knows how many Owlfly, Libelloides, species there are in Spain and, more specifically, in my bit. This photo was taken in July @1,300m in the Cordillera Cantábrica. L. coccajus possibly? Is it possible to ID from a photo? Checking the 'net (because I don't have any relevant field guide.......yet) I see that colouration of different species varies, ie patches of yellow, white and black is different in each species. Here's Andy's photo on the gallery. Last question, what is the fluffy bit called at the top of the head? Mine's white, which is throwing me a bit.

[indalo]

Don´t forget to look for Libelloides baeticus.

Yours in the picture looks very "worn out" (desgastado o "volado").

Regards

Jesús

[lisa]

Thanks Jesús. Having looked for baetica I find there are six genera of Libelloides in Iberia, here on Insectarium Virtual. I think you're right, mine is somewhat over the hill (tiene canas  ) and the photo is poor, but I´m still inclining towards coccajus (like the name too). Then I've just found a description of the differences between the species on Fotonatura.
"L. baeticus: que es el de la foto, con mancha blanca en las posteriores.
L. cunnii: que es igual al de la foto pero con la difusión en la posterior amarilla limón en vez de blanca.
L. coccajus: con una línea negra que sale de la base del ala hasta el ángulo formado por la dilatación del borde posterior.
L.longicornis: mancha apical del ala posterior formando un círculo no cerrado.
L.ictericus: la mancha apical es totalmente oscura , con forma romboidal.
L.ictericus: la mancha apical."

Make that 5 species? 

[andyj]

hi lisa,
i think you have a very tricky one there. Being a bit old and tattered has washed out the colour patterns on the wing. I will stick my neck out and say it is EITHER L.cunnii or L.coccajus but Im not familiar enough with this family to confidently ID it.
It may have to remain as Libelloides sp.

Andy

[lisa]

Yep, looking at the date, 26th of July, I'm going to have to keep a look out earlier for a specimen in its prime 

[Steve1]

I saw lots of these in a grassy field in Cantabria last June, i had no idea what they were at the time but they sure are impressive to watch, good luck on trying to a photo Lisa, i spent a good hour trying to get a picture but i did not get within 20 feet of one .   Steve