id for some nymphs

[metalfish]

Hello, could someone id these draonfly & damselfly nymphs for me







I found them all in the pond today

[Dogghound]

2. Emperor dragonfly.
3. Southern hawker.
4. Southern hawker.
5. Southern hawker

[Ukwildlifeo]

1. Is a large red damselfly. Other than small red damselfly (which only occurs in shallow heathland pools) not other damselfly species is as stumpy/bulky. Other damselfly species are much more elongate.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

2. Emperor dragonfly.
3. Southern hawker.
4. Southern hawker.
5. Southern hawker

Just out of curiosity what features did you base the IDs on? Epiproct and head/eye shape? Its always fun spliting the hawker nymphs and just wondering how you do it.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Just out of curiosity what features did you base the IDs on? Epiproct and head/eye shape?

Yes, Anax and Aeshna have different eye shapes, with Anax having large eyes with a straight line at their bases. The Epiproct in the Aeshnids is concave in these photographs suggesting Southern Hawker. Migrant (and Norfolk) have a straight edged "cut off" epiproct, Brown (Common and Azure) have a Bifid epiproct which can look similar but is wider with more curvature on the edges. Anax also have larger anal appendages. The colour can also be used as well as striping on the legs etc. There is a good book on ID but I keep forgetting to buy it, there were some at the bird fair but I forgot to pick up a copy.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Yes, Anax and Aeshna have different eye shapes, with Anax having large eyes with a straight line at their bases. The Epiproct in the Aeshnids is concave in these photographs suggesting Southern Hawker. Migrant (and Norfolk) have a straight edged "cut off" epiproct, Brown (Common and Azure) have a Bifid epiproct which can look similar but is wider with more curvature on the edges. Anax also have larger anal appendages. The colour can also be used as well as striping on the legs etc. There is a good book on ID but I keep forgetting to buy it, there were some at the bird fair but I forgot to pick up a copy.

Steve Chams books are good. One for dragons and one for damsels. But I often don't have them with me so often can't remember how to tell them apart, unless its longer than 5cm, which means its an emperor!

[metalfish]

Thankyou Dogghound and UKwildlifeo, and for the description of ident features