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Dragonflies and damselflies.
At the present moment we have 15 species of dragonfly or damselfly which visit Wymeswold. The dragonfly are larger insects, and at rest their wings usually remain open. The damselfly are quite small insects, (about 4 cm long), and usually have their wings closed when not flying.
Both dragonfly and damselfly spend most of the year in the pond, as eggs or larvae, before they emerge for their flight season in the summer.
In Wymeswold the earliest damselfly can be seen in early May, and the latest dragonfly can be seen in early November.
Broad Bodied Chaser
Photo taken May 2008
This powder blue dragonfly is quite tame, and can be seen round Wymeswold ponds from late May until mid summer. It has yellow markings down it's sides, and dark patches at the base of it's wings
Photo taken July 2007.
The female is orange brown, looking like a giant bee or hornet. It has the same dark patches at the base of the wings.
In early summer several males can be seen beside a pond, but once a male and female have paired the male becomes very territorial, and chases off other competing males.
Four Spotted Chaser
Photo taken July 2007.
This dragonfly seems not to be very common in Leicestershire, but has made a home in Wymeswold. It has a spot at the end and at the middle of each wing. It is difficult to tell the difference between the males and the females.
It is very territorial, and will happily chase off larger dragonflies from the pond.
Southern Hawker - Female
Photo take August 2004.
Female Southern Hawkers can often be seen egg laying in the vegetation above the water level. This one was probably newly emerged from its larval form, and is drying its wings before flight.
Southern Hawker -male
Southern Hawker male Photo taken July 2008
Southern Hawker- male. Photo taken August 2008. Was it trying to camouflage itself against the hose pipe?
Ruddy Darter
Photo taken August 2007.
The Ruddy Darter can often be seen on a sunny day pointing its tail end towards the sun. In this position only the tip of its tail gets heated up by the sun, so keeping the dragonfly as cool as possible. It looks similar to the male Common Darter, but has a slim waist and black legs.
Common Darter
Photo taken June 2007.
The photo is of a newly emerged Common Darter which was resting while it was drying its wings ready for flight.
Photo taken August 2007.
The male and female Common darters are in "wheel" position as they mate. They then stay as a pair as the female lays her eggs in the pond.
Photo taken August 2007.
The Common Darters appear to be quite tame, and are not disturbed easily. If they are disturbed, they soon return to their favorite perch.
Brown Hawker
Photo taken August 2007.
The Brown Hawker is a large dragonfly with distinctive amber coloured wings. It is easily disturbed. This dragonfly was laying eggs in the pond.
Emperor Dragonfly - Male
Photo taken July 2007. The male Emperors seem to settle rarely during the day, and so are difficult to photograph. They seem to land on vegetation when they have caught something to eat. The distinctive feature of the Emperors is the continuous dark line down the centre of the back. This one has damaged wings, so may be "old", had a battle with other dragonflies, or have been caught up in vegetation.
Emperor Dragonfly - Female
Photo taken June 2007. The female Emperor is much greener than the male, but still has the continuous dark line down the centre of its back. It is frequently seen egg laying in ponds, putting the tip of its abdomen into the water, and attaching the eggs to leaves.
Black Tailed Skimmer
Photo taken July 2007. The Black Tailed Skimmer looks like the male Broad Bodied Chaser, but it doesn't have the dark patches at the base of the wings.
Migrant Hawker
Photo taken August 2007. The Migrant Hawker doesn't seem to be very common in Wymeswold. This one was resting for quite a long time, so may have been drying its wings.
Blue Tailed Damselfly
This is an early to mid summer damselfy, quite common around Wymeswold's ponds
Common Blue Damselfly.
Photo taken July 2007. The Common Blue Damselfly has a distinctive spade pattern at the top of the abdomen. These two are in "wheel" position before egg laying in the pond.
Large Red Damselfly
Photo taken May 2007. The earliest of damselflies in Wymeswold. By mid summer it has laid its eggs, which will start growing as larvae, and emerge from the pond in the following year.
Azure Damselfly
Photo taken June 2007. The distinctive feature of this small blue damselfly is the U shaped marking at the top of the abdomen.
Banded Demoiselle - male
Banded Demoiselle. Photo taken July 2008. A rare visitor to Wymeswold. This needs flowing water to lay eggs in.
Emerald Damselfly- male
Emerald Damselfly. Photo taken July 2008. This metallic green damselfly perches with its wings out at 45 degrees. Other damselflies close their wings when perching.
Emerald Damselfly - female. Photo taken July 2008
- Leicestershire and Rutland Dragonfly Group
For a very good site with local information about dragonflies and damselflies, please follow the link to the Leicestershire and Rutland Dragonfly Group.
Last Updated Wed, 17 Sep, 2008.