Dragonfly Exuviae....

[ollyk]

Went to local SSSI at the weekend and found this floating at the edge of pond..







Size is very small at approximately 24mm...

Do nymphs shed their skins? Would explain the small size I guess!

The closest I can match to is an Azure which I am sure can be ruled out so would appreciate help with i.d.

Olly.

[Jason Green]

*sorry, I didn't read the size*

[earthdragon64]

Nymphs do shed their skins, and you can find the skins floating. Looking at it, and your location, I'll stick my neck out and say Common Hawker, I'm pretty sure it's one of the Hawker species. Has it changed colour at all as it has dried and hardened?

[Jason Green]

I edited my post to remove my ID of male Broad-bodied Chaser - it has the look of something bigger than a Damselfly in my opinion, but it's too small I thought.

I wonder if the long winter has changed things at all?

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I edited my post to remove my ID of male Broad-bodied Chaser - it has the look of something bigger than a Damselfly in my opinion, but it's too small I thought.

I wonder if the long winter has changed things at all?

To me the shape is right for one of the Hawkers, the small size would suggest a Nymph skin, rather than the normal final emergence skin. Another pointer to a Nymph skin, is that it is a bit early for emergence for most species, even in the balmy southern climate. I'm not expecting to see any up here until after mid-May.

[ollyk]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I edited my post to remove my ID of male Broad-bodied Chaser - it has the look of something bigger than a Damselfly in my opinion, but it's too small I thought.

I wonder if the long winter has changed things at all?

Hi Jason thanks I had ruled out both Damsel and chasers I am sure it is a hawker and think earthdragon64 is probably correct.

@earthdragon64 no colour change at all since I recovered.

I must try to get a complete list of species on this site as I believe it is a very diverse area with about 17 recorded species (Warrington).

I will post a couple other critters I found shortly - just got to feed our critter

[RoyW]

As suggested, it is the skin of a larvae that has been shed as it grows. If it was a final instar larval skin there would be very obvious wing buds visible behind the thorax which extend back to the third or fourth abdomenal segment (small 'wing buds' do seem to be present, these get larger each time the skin is shed).
Common Hawker is a likely species ID, but I wouldn't rule out Southern or Brown Hawker based on these photos - especially as it is not a final instar larvae, which is the stage that keys tend to concentrate on (diagnostic features may not appear, or be obvious,until later stages of growth).
The dark colour is typical of the skin of a larva that has been living in a pond on 'peaty' soil (heathland/woodland etc), these tend to be much darker than larvae/ exuviae found elsewhere.

[Bellow]

Hello Jason,
I would go with the guys who suggest one of the "Hawker" family. Nymphs can moult their larval skin from 6/15 times in their life,to increase their growth size prior to hatching.They ingest fluid to split the outgrown skin and emerge one size larger.The skin you found,and the size 24mm,would suggest it is approx. 50/60% thro, its nymphal stage.This constant moulting is generally known as "instars" ie, 50/60% = 9/11 instars, so will have a few more to go before emerging. Good observation, very interesting subject,hope I,ve been of some help.These fanastic "aerobatics" are fascinating to study,I just "love Em".
Bellow(Roly)

[ollyk]

Thanks folks