Newly Emerged Damsel ID

shenk1 · #1 (**permalink**) 19-05-2011, 06:54 PM

Our little pond seems to be having a bit of a baby boom at the minute.

Any ideas on this Damsel and what it will turn out to be.We had plenty of Azure,Blue Tailed and Common Blues last year if that narrows it down.

Cheers,shenk1

Geoff F · #2 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 07:05 PM

That is an excellent photo but I'm not sure that even one of the experts could put a name to it at that stage; at least not just from a photo.

shenk1 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 07:22 PM

Cheers Geoff

Just wish I'd got all the wing in and placed the plant closer to the edge of the pond to minimize the risk of dropping my camera in

shenk1

Wild-Woman · #4 (**permalink**) 21-05-2011, 05:08 AM

The stick in the picture looks as though it's a favourite to emerge on! Think I can see 3 other exuviae.

wint · #5 (**permalink**) 21-05-2011, 07:09 AM

The exuviae look long winged and the one that we can see the back of appears to have a straight rear edge to the head - pointing to Large Red Damselfly. But we'd probably need more images to really tell. As Wild-woman says they really like that stick.

shenk1 · #6 (**permalink**) 21-05-2011, 07:36 PM

The "Stick" is the growth of last years Purple Loosestrife that I've left

(good idea that one it seems)

Yep - they really like it

2 more at the side on this tears growth as well

RoyW · #7 (**permalink**) 22-05-2011, 02:01 AM

I think that it is possible to suggest a very tentative ID of the damselfly in the original post - but shots showing fine details well (especially the pronotum) would be useful on sucha fresh individual.

There are several features that point towards it being a male Azure Damselfly, incuding the shape of the visible part of the pronotum, the abdomenal appendages, and the visible markings on the abdomen (which can be emphasized slightly by adjusting the contrast).