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Images in Ultraviolet (UV) Light

black-tailed skimmer dragonfly imm male in uv.jpg

This Dragonfly has a blue power on the top surface similar to the Broad Bodied Chaser, and shows similar (though in this immature male not as developed) UV reflectance.
Photographed with permission from a protected private site, we limited our handling to a minimum.


Ref: black-tailed skimmer dragonfly imm male in uv.jpg

bluebell common (hyacinthoides non-scripta) in uv.jpg

The mature flower has quite high UV reflectance - a curse of colour photography of this subject where filtering is required to give the 'true' colour.


Ref: bluebell common (hyacinthoides non-scripta) in uv.jpg

brimstone butterfly male 3 in uv.jpg

The top of the forewing shows unexpected patterning that stops before the edge of the wing. See also different individual male 4.


Ref: brimstone butterfly male 3 in uv.jpg

broad-bodied chaser dragonfly male in uv.jpg

This is the only commonly known member of the Odonata (Dragonfly & Damselfly) family with substantial UV reflectance on the top surface. It is a blue 'powder' that rubs off during life, so old individuals often have less normal light blue and similar UV.
The main section shows the female with none and another male before and after brushing a segment to show the effect.
We have also surveyed the Black-tailed Skimmer which shows a similar characteristic.


Ref: broad-bodied chaser dragonfly male in uv.jpg

buddleia - white colour in uv.jpg

The White buddleia is a very successful insect attractant, and the brightness in UV may well contribute, more so when insects have a choice than Lilac or yellow/orange vareties which are near black in UV.


Ref: buddleia - white colour in uv.jpg

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