Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Raphidioptera (Snakeflies) ➔ Family Raphidiidae

Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832)

Gelbgezeichnete Kamelhalsfliege

Synonyms and other combinations: ∇
  • Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female 9304
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832)  Gelbgezeichnete Kamelhalsfliege   
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2020-05-13 13:50:33
    Image number: 9304
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2020-05-13 13:50:33
  • Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female 9305
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832)  Gelbgezeichnete Kamelhalsfliege   
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2020-05-13 13:48:50
    Image number: 9305
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2020-05-13 13:48:50
  • Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female 9306
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832)  Gelbgezeichnete Kamelhalsfliege   
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2020-05-13 13:49:15
    Image number: 9306
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2020-05-13 13:49:15
  • Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female 9307
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832)  Gelbgezeichnete Kamelhalsfliege   
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2020-05-13 13:49:53
    Image number: 9307
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2020-05-13 13:49:53
  • Xanthostigma xanthostigma, wings 9308
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832)  Gelbgezeichnete Kamelhalsfliege   
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma, wings
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2020-05-13 13:50:37
    Image number: 9308
    wings
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2020-05-13 13:50:37
  • Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female 11096
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832)  Gelbgezeichnete Kamelhalsfliege   
    Xanthostigma xanthostigma, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2023-05-14 12:53:50
    Image number: 11096
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2023-05-14 12:53:50

Distribution:
Widely distributed in Central, Northern and Eastern Europe.
Habitat:
The euryoecious species colonizes light oak forests, mixed pine forests, orchards and humid riparian forests.
Description:
Length of forewing approx. 9 - 11 mm; pterostigma yellow with one transverse vein; body slender; forechest strongly elongated and freely movable; head flattened.
The females of the Raphidiidae are easily distinguished from the males by their long ovipositor.
Biology:
The diurnal adults of Xanthostigma xanthostigma are mainly found in May and June.
The females lay their eggs in cracks in the bark of trees and bushes. After hatching, the larvae live almost exclusively on/under the bark of various deciduous trees and shrubs. They feed predatorily on insects, preferably on hemipterans of suborder Sternorrhyncha.
The developmental period of snakeflies of the family Raphidiidae is at least one, usually two or more years.
The eggs develop within a few days up to 3 weeks. The number of larval instars is variable. Often about 10 - 11 stages are passed through, but 15 or more are also possible. A period of low temperature is required to initiate pupation. The pupation takes place in spring. The pupal stage lasts from a few days to 3 weeks.

References, further reading, links:
  1. Oswald J.D. (2019). LDL Neuropterida Species of the World (version Jul 2018). In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life, 2019 Annual Checklist (Roskov Y., Ower G., Orrell T., Nicolson D., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., DeWalt R.E., Decock W., Nieukerken E. van, Zarucchi J., Penev L., eds.). Digital resource at www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2019. Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. ISSN 2405-884X.
  2. H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck: Raphidioptera – Kamelhalsfliegen Ein Überblick zum Einstieg, Entomologica Austriaca, 16, 53-72, Linz, 2009.
  3. H. Aspöck: The Biology of Raphidioptera: A Review of Present Knowledge, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 48 (Suppl. 2), pp. 35–50, 2002.