Are these eggs on the damselflies

welsh.lensman · #1 (**permalink**) 20-05-2008, 11:33 PM

Can anyone tell me what these are on the chest of both the male and female Azure damselflies, are they in fact eggs or some sort of growth.

sorry about the quality of the photo.

Bub-les · #2 (**permalink**) 20-05-2008, 11:38 PM

Could be mites. Like the ones found on bumble bees
Barbara

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 05:41 AM

They are indeed mites. I've found them on damsels before. A couple of years ago I photographed a male Banded Demoiselle that seemed sluggish, but otherwise in good nick. When the photo came up on screen I noticed the mites on him that I hadn't seen in the Field!

Wild-Woman · #4 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 06:06 AM

It's probably because of digital photograph that we notice mites more.

welsh.lensman · #5 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 08:43 AM

Thanks for your help everyone.
Your quite right aeshna, it was'nt until I had the image on the computer that I in fact noticed the mites. thanks again.