Small Whiteface

Small Whiteface

Leucorrhinia dubia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Moscow

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

15 Verified sightings at Moscow
54 In all 4 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Small Whiteface

The white-faced darter or small whiteface (Leucorrhinia dubia) is a dragonfly belonging to the genus Leucorrhinia in the family Libellulidae, characterised by red and black markings and a distinctive white patch on the head. It is found in wetlands and peat bogs from northern Europe eastwards to Siberia, and the adults are active from around April till September, which is known as the "flight period". It breeds in acidic bodies of water, laying its eggs in clumps of sphagnum moss that provide a safe habitat for larval development. The larvae are particularly vulnerable to predation by fish, and so are usually found in lakes where fish are not present. L. dubia is listed as a species of least concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List, however, it is potentially threatened by habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.

This species has a predominantly black body, usually 33–37 mm (1.3–1.5 in) in length - the abdomen is 21–27 mm (0.83–1.06 in) long and the hindwing is 23–28 mm (0.91–1.10 in) long. Mature males have striking red and orange markings on the abdomen and thorax which become darker with age, whereas young males and females have pale yellow markings. All individuals... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
2 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
3 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
4 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Helsinki 🇫🇮 Finland
<5%
2 Moscow 🇷🇺 Russia
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Small Whiteface in Moscow?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Small Whiteface sighting in Moscow on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 608th most-seen of the 1111 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Small Whiteface in Moscow?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Small Whiteface in Moscow on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

What time of day is best to see a Small Whiteface?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Small Whiteface sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Moscow the best place to see a Small Whiteface?

Among the best

Of the 2 cities where we can rate Small Whiteface sightings, Moscow ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Helsinki (Finland, under 5%).

Where does the Small Whiteface sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Small Whiteface is recorded against all the insects logged in Moscow (15 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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