Banded Demoiselle variation?

[htcdude]

Just a question, can there be slight variations in colour in Banded Demoiselles? I had one the other day that was a very bright violet colour, not seen one like it before. Do they go through a colour change after the emerge?

Thanks,

Nige

[Geoff F]

Can't find any mention of colours like that in my book.

Are you sure it is a Banded Demoiselle. Some other species of Damselflies can have violet coloured juveniles.

[Kayleigh]

Could this have been what you saw..

Violet Dancer - Argia fumipennis violacea

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Could this have been what you saw..

Violet Dancer - Argia fumipennis violacea

Given this has never been recorded in the UK or Europe, I think it's safe to say no!

[htcdude]

Heh no it wasn't. Here's some pics I took, definately a Banded Demoiselle I think. Trouble is you can't make out the purple at all, the photos just make it look normal or slightly pale, but the pale patch was definately purple. I should've mentioned it was only the abdominal segments that were this purple colour.



Hopefully someone can shed some light!

Thanks,

Nige

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by htcdude

Hopefully someone can shed some light!

I think that you might find that you've given the likely explanation - the apparent violet colour was due to the "shedding of light", and the way your brain interpreted the refracted light (in the same way that mature Demoiselles can appear blue or green, depending on the angle).
Your photos show a teneral male Banded Dem, so the colour would be expected to be duller and less reflective than mature adults, but typically still looks bluish.

[htcdude]

Hmmm I see what you're saying Roy, but this was definately a lot brighter than and lighter in colour than the photo shows. I only noticed this because it flew past looking the same colour as this smiley -

Thanks for all your input on this!

Nige

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Given this has never been recorded in the UK or Europe, I think it's safe to say no!

Flipping google lol

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by htcdude

Hmmm I see what you're saying Roy, but this was definately a lot brighter than and lighter in colour than the photo shows. I only noticed this because it flew past looking the same colour as this smiley -

But, as you have said, the camera didn't pick out this colour - so either the camera or your brain has interpreted the colour incorrectly (cameras do lie, but it's not always the camera!). I wonder how much manipulation would need to be done to the white balance, hue, and saturation to produce a violet colour - and whether the colour of the rest of the photo would still look right with these adjustments.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by RoyW

But, as you have said, the camera didn't pick out this colour - so either the camera or your brain has interpreted the colour incorrectly (cameras do lie, but it's not always the camera!). I wonder how much manipulation would need to be done to the white balance, hue, and saturation to produce a violet colour - and whether the colour of the rest of the photo would still look right with these adjustments.

True - and my brain isn't the best in the world either so double whammy!

Thanks again for your input.

Nige