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

****

Dinefwr

[c]

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!

• Damselflies on the British Dragonfly Society site
  

My previous post is largely about the Dragonfly.

Window on Wildlife (11): Dragonflies

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.

I am a total novice at Dragonfly identification; any help here would be appreciated!

WWT Llanelli

[i]

Above

? Aeshna juncea - Common Hawker

P.S. July 2010: For an update on this I.D. [i], please see comments below!

[ii]

Above

Sympetrum striolatum - Common Darter

[iii]

Above

Sympetrum striolatum - Common Darter

[iv]

Above

Sympetrum striolatum - Common Darter (female)

[v]

I have not been able - as yet - to identify this Dragonfly.
It had compact heavy features
and seemed to enjoy dive-bombing, 'helicopter-style', into the water.

Same as above

Same as above

Same as above

Same as above:
I think it may be a Chaser
(having looked at a Four-Spotted Chaser on the Kenfig blog here)

[vi]

Above

I think this is a Hawker of some description!

[vii]

Above
Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum
Family Libellulidae - Chasers, Skimmers and Darters

N.B. I have attempted to give each individual Dragonfly a number e.g. [vi],
which will appear just above a its photograph.
It is possible that there may be more than one example of any species.

• British Dragonfly Society
  

I will focus on the Damselfly in my next post.