Damselfly ID Please

[LoveT]

This could go either way - easily identified (I hope ) or it could start an argument .

I took this in my garden this afternoon - it's definitely a damselfly (that much I do know) but as to which one and whether it's male or female I have no idea. I can only assume it's got some sort of pigmentation problem:



Help, please!

Thanks for looking

Thea

[pressld2]

This is only a tentative suggestion but I'm going to try teneral female southern damselfly. It's quite a rare beast and I've never seen one but you're in the right location for it.

We shouldn't have to wait long for one of the experts to confirm or correct me.

Dave P.

[Wild-Woman]

Looks possible BUT the habitat doesn't. It appears to be real specialist. But then you never know!

[david156]

I'm going to say teneral Azure Damselfly but i'm probably wrong!
Don't suppose you have a picture of it showing its back.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by david156

I'm going to say teneral Azure Damselfly but i'm probably wrong!

I would say that you are correct.

It's not the easiest angle from which to separate the two species, but the shape of the pronotum seems to fit Azure pretty well (as far as can be seen).

Originally Posted by LoveT

This could go either way - easily identified (I hope ) or it could start an argument .

Females of some species are very similar, so if you don't have the right angle they aren't easily identified from photos - in this case I believe that it's an Azure, but I wouldn't argue with someone who said it was a Southern!

Originally Posted by LoveT

I can only assume it's got some sort of pigmentation problem:

No colour problem (except possibly for those trying to make an identification!). Dragonflies and damselflies take a while to develop their colours after they first emerge in their adult form, this one is described as "teneral" meaning that it has recently emerged - it will quickly develop brighter immature colours, changing to "mature" colours after a few days.

[ladyhawk]

Azure female I think.

[LoveT]

Hi All

Thanks for all the helpful info - much appreciated.

Here are some more views of it, if that helps:






Thea

[RoyW]

The shape of the pronotum (clearly visible in the new shots, particularly the second one down) confirms that this is an Azure Damselfly.