Couple of unidentified critters....

Red Robin · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 12:31 PM

.
Doubtless well known but not to this newbie to pond life.

^ About 20mm long with 6 legs.. and 4 eyes!!?

^ Note the other critter hiding on the righthand side of the lily stalk freeway. I didn't spot him/her/it at the time because I was so focussed on getting a shot of the 4-eyed one.

^ Context for the location: Stayed a while 'sunbathing' on the surface of my newly installed Underwater Palace aka Thunderdome pottery shelter.

Damselfly? Mayfly? Surely too small for a Dragonfly?

Thanks for any help

Gatekeeper · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 02:46 PM

They're Damselfly nymphs, but I don't think they will be identifiable from the photos, as a lot of nymphs can be tricky in the hand

. Keep an eye out for them emerging next year.

triops · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 02:51 PM

Damselfly nymphs of course, but with the right number (two) of large compound eyes. You've been fooled by the shadow!

Red Robin · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 04:30 PM

^^^^
Many Thanks, guys

I thought the chap on the lily stalk on the right looked different from the '4-eyed one', but you seem to be saying it's the same species.

What time of year do they usually emerge, please?

Gatekeeper · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 05:52 PM

Emergence times are a bit variable; for instance, Large Red Damselfly individuals start to emerge in March, the Common Blue Damselfly usually starts to emerge in April, and other species don't emerge until May, June, or later.

Here's some links:

British Dragonfly Society - Home

Chris Brooks Photography

Red Robin · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 06:27 PM

^^^^
Hey Gatekeeper! A BIG Thankyou!

There's loads of these alongside the small river a hundred yards away from my wildlife pond:

Gatekeeper · #7 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 06:46 PM

Glad to help. I've found the book- Britain's Dragonflies, by Dave Smallshire & Andy Swash, to be an invaluable aid; it gives amazing assistance for identifying imagos and nymphs. I'd be lost without it! Review/purchase link below:

https://www.wildguides.co.uk/our-tit...second-edition

P.s The Damselfly is a Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo- gorgeous.

diggleken · #8 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 06:52 PM

Great, I've got a big birthday coming up and this is on the shortlist now,

cheers
Ken

animartco · #9 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 12:21 PM

Looks like a mayfly nymph to me and I can't see the second one, unless you mean what looks like some watersnail spawn attached to the leaf?

Red Robin · #10 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by animartco

Looks like a mayfly nymph to me and I can't see the second one, unless you mean what looks like some watersnail spawn attached to the leaf?

....There's Drake Mackerel Mayflies in my neck of the woods too:

The second critter in my original shot is on the righthand side of the lily stalk running from upper right corner of the photo. His head is facing the opposite way to the other critter, so downwards, and he has 6 legs but more evenly spaced than the other guy. He really doesn't look the same as the other guy. My photo isn't the best as I'm using a pocket digital camera through water.