Tuesday 8 June 2010

Window on Wildlife (12): Damselflies

These creatures begin life in the water and move out from it as they develop. We have about forty types of Dragonfly and Damselfly in the UK. More than twenty species can be seen at WWT Llanelli. I am wondering how many varieties I have spotted here and at Dinefwr near Llandeilo.

This is my first attempt at identifying the different kinds of Damselfly, and I am finding it a tricky task. If any reader can put me straight over wrong identifications, I would be very grateful!



WWT Llanelli
[a]

Above

Enallagma cyathigerum - Common Blue Damselfly


[b]

Above

Ischnura elegans - Blue-tailed Damselfly


****



Above

Enallagma cyathigerum - Common Blue Damselfly

[d]

Above

Enallagma cyathigerum Common Blue Damselfly


[e]
Above

Ischnura elegans - Blue-tailed Damselfly

The ‘threads’ here indicate a damselfly recently emerged from the aquatic nymph phase.
My thanks to Professor P. Brain for this information.

[f]

Above

Enallagma cyathigerum - Common Blue Damselfly

[g]


Above
Enallagma cyathigerum - Common Blue Damselfly
[h]

Above

Ischnura elegans - Blue-tailed Damselfly

[i]


Above

Ischnura elegans - Blue-tailed Damselfly

[j]

Above

This may be the...

Pyrrhosoma nymphula - Large Red Damselfly

N.B. Each letter - [a], [b] etc. - is meant to represent an individual Damselfly in the photo below.
There may, of course, be more than one picture of the same species!



My previous post is largely about the Dragonfly.

2 comments:

Naquillity said...

aren't they just the flightiest creatures to photograph. but, when you do they're so impressive. they wear their colors well. these pics and the ones of the dragonflies are great. hope all is well.

Mistlethrush said...

Some good shots there Caroline. Amazing creatures aren't they?