Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Dragonflies & Damselflies Page 20

Image Taken on 21 May 2014 at 12:17 Image of day on 25 Jul 2014

The warmest pond had a scattering of Large Red Damselflies ('Large' being a relative term!) laying eggs in the pond weed. The female is on the leaf. The segments of the abdomen hinge without any ill-effects.

Ref: 20140725_df2_20140521_1217_340 large red damselflies laying in duck shaped pond (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 29 May 2012 at 17:32 Image of day on 28 Jun 2012

More detail of the intricately coloured thorax.

Ref: 20120628_df1_20120529_1732_041 large red damselfly (detail crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 03 May 2023 at 13:11 Image of day on 15 Jun 2023

Last seen in 2020 (and then after a 5 year gap) we again see a female Large Red Damselfly. Here on some desiccated foliage ...

Ref: 20230615_df3_20230503_1311_094 large red damselfly (pyrrhosoma nymphula) female fulvipes form (1st of 2023) (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 03 May 2023 at 13:13 Image of day on 15 Jun 2023

... and she then moved onto a fresh Blackberry leaf.
She is a hunter - all the foliage does is provide a lookout perch.

Ref: 20230615_df3_20230503_1313_109 large red damselfly (pyrrhosoma nymphula) female fulvipes form (1st of 2023) (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 30 May 2012 at 12:28 Image of day on 28 Jun 2012

The Large Red Damselfly is only large compared to the 'small ...'

Ref: 20120628_df1_20120530_1228_113 large red damselfly female (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 May 2020 at 13:05 Image of day on 18 Jun 2020

A visitor not seen for 5 years - a female large Red Damselfly.

Ref: 20200618_d73_20200520_1305_091 large red damselfly female (1st of 2020 not seen since 2015)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 May 2014 at 10:16 Image of day on 17 Jul 2014

This was our first sighting this year of a female Large Red Damselfly just a few minutes after seeing a male. We hope they found each other!

Ref: 20140717_df2_20140517_1016_230 large red damselfly female (fulvipes variant) on leaf(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 16 May 2009 at 14:16 Image of day on 09 Jun 2009

The Dragonflies and damselflies just starting to be seen. The Large Red Damselfly (size being a relative measure) was found in the long grass and photographic in flight. The underside is NOT red - most dragonflies are different underneath.

Ref: 20090609_dc1_20090516_1416_024 ft1 large red damselfly female in flight (head on & bottom view) (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Jun 2013 at 12:38 Image of day on 17 Jul 2013

This first sighting of the year of a female Large Red Damselfly found her in this curved position. It always amazed us now much the joints on the abdomen can bend while the whole body looks so rigid when straight.

Ref: 20130717_df1_20130603_1238_029 large red damselfly female on tree leaf in looped position (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Jun 2008 at 13:57 Image of day on 17 Jun 2008

Damselflies are sort of miniature dragonflies, & just as alien.

Ref: 20080617_dc1_20080608_1357_029 large red damselfly male(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 01 May 2011 at 14:38 Image of day on 01 Jun 2011

Ref: 20110601_da1_20110501_1438_056+1451_108_ft1 large red damselfly male in flight with hop sedge (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Jul 2010 at 15:19 Image of day on 24 Aug 2010

A Large Red Damselfly but as yet without the typically red eyes. Many odonata vary hugely in colour as they age.

Ref: 20100824_da1_20100710_1519_048+1635_190_ft1 large red damselfly male in flight with hop sedge (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Jul 2006 at 12:32 Image of day on 30 Jul 2006

Although spending most of their lives as aquatic larva, they spend a lot of the adult phase lurking in vegetation.

Ref: 20060730_d10_20060714_1232_850 large red damselfly male on blackberry leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 May 2014 at 10:12 Image of day on 17 Jul 2014

This was our first sighting this year of a male Large Red Damselfly. The stick was a horizontal perch for Darter Dragonflies to hunt from

Ref: 20140717_df2_20140517_1012_225 large red damselfly male on horizontal stick(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Jun 2010 at 12:50 Image of day on 26 Jul 2010

Red eyes - but NOT a red eyed damselfly - a Large Red Damselfly.

Ref: 20100726_db1_20100617_1250_008 large red damselfly male on vertical stem (crop 1)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Jun 2010 at 12:50 Image of day on 26 Jul 2010

A better look at the intricate head and thorax

Ref: 20100726_db1_20100617_1250_008 large red damselfly male on vertical stem (crop 2)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 May 2009 at 14:54 Image of day on 09 Jun 2009

Here the same species viewed more conventionally on a leaf.

Ref: 20090609_p34_20090516_1454_293 large red damselfly on blackthorn leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Jun 2013 at 12:55 Image of day on 22 Jul 2013

A pair of Large Red Damselflies are laying eggs in the main pond. The female (lower) is ovipositing on the pond lily leaf below the water surface, as you can see from the floating duckweed.

Ref: 20130722_df1_20130607_1255_044 large red damselfly pair laying in main pond (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Jun 2010 at 11:25 Image of day on 09 Aug 2010

The damselflies are busy mating and laying. Mating couples often get harassed by other males wanting (and sometimes managing to get) the female for themselves.

Ref: 20100809_df1_20100627_1125_118 mating azure damselflies with another male trying to interfere (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Aug 2011 at 14:37 Image of day on 10 Oct 2011

Ref: 20111010_df1_20110821_1437_122+123 mating common darter dragonflies harassed by ruddy darter male 7+8 of 8 (montage for focus)(r+mb id@576).jpg

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