Willow emerald dameslfly?

[Kiristar]

Hi there,
I've been processing my dragon and damselfly images for my website and have a lot of emerald damselfly shots, but when I looked at this one it didn't seem quite right and I wonder if it might be a willow emerald?

[Wild-Woman]

Where was it taken? Quite important because they're dotted around a few sites.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Have you got a shot showing the wings in focus? The pterostigma are usueful for IDs of emeralds.

The location is quite useful too. To my knowledge they were recorded in Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk this year

[RoyW]

It's 'just' a female Common Emerald Damselfly I'm afraid - sorry!

[Ukwildlifeo]

Having had a look through my pics of the 4 species Im coming up with 'common' emerald

Edit: trust Roy to beat me to it

[Kiristar]

Thanks guys, I guess the thicker looking white bars got me excited - no worries. It was in a peaty bog pond with sundew plants in west berks so not on their patch anyway.

Thank you :-)

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Kiristar

It was in a peaty bog pond with sundew plants in west berks so not on their patch anyway.

The described habitat would be more suited to Common Emerald Damselfly than Willow Emerald. Don't worry too much about it being outside of the current range though if you think you might have found a Willow Emerald Damselfly in the future - it is likely that they will spread in future years, and someone always has to be the first to find a species in new areas as they expand their range (UKWildlifeo found the first Southern Emerald Damselfly to be recorded in Essex a couple of summers ago).

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by RoyW

The described habitat would be more suited to Common Emerald Damselfly than Willow Emerald. Don't worry too much about it being outside of the current range though if you think you might have found a Willow Emerald Damselfly in the future - it is likely that they will spread in future years, and someone always has to be the first to find a species in new areas as they expand their range (UKWildlifeo found the first Southern Emerald Damselfly to be recorded in Essex a couple of summers ago).

Thanks for mentioning that - your cheque is in the mail

Thae fact I found it shows anyone can do it. Mind you I couldnt locate the willow emerald at the site in Essex and ended up finding them in Norfolk in the end! And the Southern emerald tuened up in Wat Tyler again but no one told me so I missed it

It wouldnt surprise it the willow makes it to West Berks in the next few years - keep an eye out near ponds and didtch with over hanging willow or alder

[Kiristar]

Thanks everyone, I always learn a lot here. I'll know to get images of the wings another time. There are meant to be other rarer species at that reserve but I've only ever seen emeralds, southern hawkers and common darters.