habitat for nymph

[Bellfamily]

I have just had a delivery of hornwort for my new pond and I was just checking through it (found bits of duckweed AHHHH) and I found what I think is a damselfly nymph. My pond is quite new and all it has in it at the moment is the hornwort, will this be enough for the nymph to survive? Is there anything I can do or make sure I put in the pond to help it or should I just not worry! I was quite excited

[Ukwildlifeo]

Have you got a photo of it? Theres a chance we could work out what species (or at least wittle it down to one of 2 or 3) it is.

As for what u can do: Damselfly nymphs are predators and there are probably a few organisms in the pond already for them to eat: if there was a damselfly nymph on the weed, there is bound to be some small creatures and/or their eggs. Also in spring things like water beetles and water boatman start flying around to colonise ponds the winter rain has refilled. It wont take long till its teeming with life

Probably the best thing you can do is not put any fish in as they will compete for food and may just eat the nymph!

[Red Robin]

I created my small wildlife pond only last June... A mate of mine (who clears out ponds occasionally when people unfortunately decide to tarmac their front garden!) is a very experienced fisherman and fish keeper with several ponds on his property, gave me all my plants: Irises, lilies, oxygenators, etc and very soon I spotted a damselfly nymph. It was probably among the plants but I've now spotted three at once and they have survived the snowy winter.

Mosquito larvae were very quick to move in and I think may have been added to the damselfly's menu.

Sorry about the photo quality:

[Bellfamily]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

I created my small wildlife pond only last June... A mate of mine (who clears out ponds occasionally when people unfortunately decide to tarmac their front garden!) is a very experienced fisherman and fish keeper with several ponds on his property, gave me all my plants: Irises, lilies, oxygenators, etc and very soon I spotted a damselfly nymph. It was probably among the plants but I've now spotted three at once and they have survived the snowy winter.

Mosquito larvae were very quick to move in and I think may have been added to the damselfly's menu.

Sorry about the photo quality:

The one I found was exactly like this, it had three bits at the end (sorry for the untechnical term!). In the end I found about 12 of varying sizes! I am pleased to hear that they eat midge and mossie larvae as we already have loads of these biting insects and I have proabably made it worse by adding the pond but, its a small price to pay!

[Dragonyka]

Originally Posted by Bellfamily

I have just had a delivery of hornwort for my new pond and I was just checking through it (found bits of duckweed AHHHH)

Just out of interest, where did you get your hornwort from?

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

Sorry about the photo quality:

Azure Damselfly.

[Bellfamily]

Originally Posted by Dragonyka

Just out of interest, where did you get your hornwort from?

Mimmack Aquatics - but I was dissapointed that I also got a few unwelcome added extras like the duckweed and I also found some pond weed which I didn't want! I spent about an hour today in the rain sifting through it to try and rescue the nymphs and snails etc and try and remove as much of the bits of duckweed as possible (although I do feel this will be in vain)!

I didn't trust it to be able to just drop the hornwort into the pond. It was a good job that I was rinsing the plants in a clear plastic tub or I could have washed the nymphs away

[Bellfamily]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Azure Damselfly.

Fab, thanks!

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Azure Damselfly.

....Is this an Azure Damselfly?:



I photographed this nearby last summer on Himalayan Balsam which they seem to love.

[Kayleigh]

Don't worry I got lots of insects dragonfly ect on plants its normal and I had tiny flies/midges laying eggs in my pond the other day so there will be lots of food around for them to eat.