Invertebrates 🦐

       Wetlands are known to harbor plenty of lifeforms - invertebrates are not an exception. They are the food source for the vertebrates living in those areas and therefore their abundance is the pillar to vertebrates fluorishing. 

Here are presented some of the invertebrates one can encounter within the wetlands of Poland!

Noble crayfish. Source.

Noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) - this sweetwater crustacean can reach up to 20cm in length. It is a bioindicator of the water cleanliness since it avoids muddy and polluted environments. It is under partial protection and is labeled as an invertebrate of high risk of extinction. Its population decreases due to the habitat loss as well as introduction of competing species such as spinycheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus) from North America.

Catocala pacta. Source.

Catocala pacta - is a moth under strict protection and labeled as critically endangered due to the habitat loss. It is one of the rarest moths in Poland - one of the reasons being that C. pacta is an oligophage meaning basically that it is a very picky eater feeding on a few, very specific plant species.

Blue-eyed hawker. Source.

Blue-eyed hawker (Aeshna affinis) - originally it was widely spread in Southern Europe but with time it is more and more commonly encountered in northern areas. In accordance with its name, it not only possesses blue eyes but also blue markings on its body. Their body length reaches 60mm and its wingspan is up to 86mm.