No reason - just pretty

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British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,732
1,983
Mercia
Went walking over the fields today and there were dozens of electric blue damsel flies (I think?) flying and err...making new damsel flies :eek:

Anyway, pretty little things - thought you might like a look

Red

damsel_fly2.jpg
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,998
4,650
S. Lanarkshire
You're right , it is pretty :) Looks almost like a piece of turquoise jewellery, doesn't it? I've got big blue ones hovering around the ponds just now, there were green ones earlier in the year.

Cheers,
Toddy
 

stinkymilo

Member
Mar 13, 2006
48
0
54
Wiltshire
Beautiful.
My sister and I used to canoe with my father when we were kids and the damsel flies used to hitch a ride at this time of the year. They really are delicate creatures.

ATB

Stinky
 

Pablo

Settler
Oct 10, 2005
647
5
65
Essex, UK
www.woodlife.co.uk
Great picture. I find the blue damselflies very difficult to identify. The large blue ones are Emperor Dragonflies.

Here's a 4-spotted chaser...
DSC00388.jpg


...and a broad bodied chaser from my local pond...
DSC00403.jpg


Just the time now for mating and ovipositing (dipping the lower abdomen in the water to lay the eggs). Two small red damselflies
DSC00395.jpg


Pablo
 
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spamel

Banned
Feb 15, 2005
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Silkstone, Blighty!
Some really nice pictures there. Would I be right in saying that damsel flies stow their wings along their body whilst dragonfly wings are already poised, ready for action!!
 

JonnyP

Full Member
Oct 17, 2005
3,833
29
Cornwall...
spamel said:
Some really nice pictures there. Would I be right in saying that damsel flies stow their wings along their body whilst dragonfly wings are already poised, ready for action!!
Yep.................Jon
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,732
1,983
Mercia
Pablo - those put mine to shame - fantastic shots all 3! Truly stunning work - have a rep point for making me go :eek:

Red

I do find the beauty of nature truly humbling looking at things like that!
 

Pablo

Settler
Oct 10, 2005
647
5
65
Essex, UK
www.woodlife.co.uk
spamel said:
Some really nice pictures there. Would I be right in saying that damsel flies stow their wings along their body whilst dragonfly wings are already poised, ready for action!!
I think this is generally the case. The genus Zygoptera fold the wings above the abdomen, the others varying positions outstretched. I think this is more to do with ventilation and different size of the wings than being prepared and ready for action though. The damselflies have the same size fore and hind wings.

Pablo
 

locum76

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 9, 2005
2,772
9
47
Kirkliston
in one of the polytunnels at my work there is a muff of marilgolds along one of the beds to keep whitefly and greenfly at bay. i found a few of the electric blue damselflies there this morning. the red ones and dragonflies prefer the pond outside.
 

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