Dragonflies and Damselflies 2010

Mothman

I'd love to have great intentions for this thread, giving identification pointers etc, but time will not permit this type of indulgence. Instead I'll start this, hopefully as encouragement for you to notice these stunning creatures and refer back to here with any queries.
I'll add photos, but I use a compact point and shoot camera, so quality will be suspect, but I'll mention diagnostic features.
Usefull website DragonflyIreland

I have 5 species on the wing at my pond at moment. Here are a couple.

Pyrrhosoma nymphula Large Red Damsel Large Red Damselfly


The only red coloured damselfly recorded in ireland. Widespread and found at nearly any watery habitat from bog pools, to lakes, to rivers to garden ponds. It is larger than the "blue" damselfies and smaller than the demoiselles.

Libellula quadrimaculata Four spotted Chaser
Medium sized dragonfly unlikely to be confused with any other species fund in Ireland. The only species with a spot in the middle of each wing. Found at a wide range of habitats including bogs, ponds, canals etc. They rest on perches overlooking their territory and the flight includes much hovering with quick darts in between.



You may notice 2 English names for the Large Red damselfly. There has been a recent movement to standardise english names across Europe. This has meant a change to a number of the common english names.
This page has the Irish list with old and new vernacular names

Alun

Nice one, I love these too. Here's a photo I took of a Large Red Damselfly taken last year on 1st June in Mount Usher Gardens, probably not far from you.

Mothman

I’m giving an insight into the blue damselfly species here. Get these cracked and you’re well on the way to identifying most species.

The are 6 blue damselfly species in Ireland.
Ischnura elegansCommon Bluetail Common Blue-tailed Damselfly
Ischnura pumilioSmall Bluetail Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerumCommon Bluet Common Blue Damselfly
Coenagrion lunulatumCrescent Bluet Irish Damselfly
Coenagrion puellaAzure Bluet Azure Damselfly
Coenagrion pulchellumVariable Bluet Variable Damselfly

4 of these are common and widespread and can all occur together at same site. Crescent Bluet Irish Damselfly is local in northern half of Ireland and Ischnura pumilioSmall Bluetail Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly is widespread but very local.
What complicates making identifications is that males and females usually differ within a species , there are various colour forms within many species and colour changes from newly emerged adults to when they are mature.
For now I’ll deal with males of the 4 common species
I’ve highlighted the critical areas to look at in this photo. I’ll refer back to them regularly. The numbers are the segments of the abdomen(tail)

I have photos of Common Bluetail, Azure Bluet and Common Bluet. Variable Bluet is an irregular visitor to me garden and I haven’t seen one yet. It is abundant a mile away though so I may get a photo.
I’ll start off with Ischnura elegans Common Bluetail Common Blue-tailed Damselfly
Main feature is that segment 8 is blue with rest of abdomen black. Both sexes can appear like this though some females have a a brown segment 8.


Unfortunately you can't assume that a single blue segment is this species because Small Bluetail is similar. In this species segment 9 and part of segment 8 is blue. It is a smaller light species. See photo
All of the following are various form of Common Bluetail. There are 2 photos of one in which the wings did not inflate successfully and the wings have hardened deformed. It'll never fly. The 2 stripes on side of thorax can be seen.






Enallagma cyathigerum Common Bluet Common Blue Damselfly
Segments 8 & 9 blue but can contain bits of black. Single strip on side of thorax and a club shaped marking in segment 2. The 2nd photo shows a male recently emerged (Teneral) It doesn't have the blue colour yet. This takes a few days after emergence.




Coenagrion puellaAzure Bluet Azure Damselfly
2 stripes on side of thorax, u shaped marking in segment 2 and segment 8 and much of segment 9 blue.


Pair of Azure Bluet in tandem


Another pair in tandem and an exuvia can be seen on leaf on left. An exuvia is the left over larval skin from which the adult emerges.


Another male Azure Bluet, but the colours have not matured yet


Coenagrion pulchellumVariable Bluet Variable Damselfly
I don't have photos of this species, but see photo here
Its main features are
2 stripes on side of thorax, a wine glass marking (u with a stem) in segment 2, narrow or even broken antehumeral stripes, Segment 8 and a small part of segment 9 blue.

Coenagrion lunulatumCrescent Bluet Irish Damselfly
I've never seen this species
See details and photos of this species on the dragonflyIreland website

muckish

Here's one I got last year by the river Lennan, Ramelton, Co.Donegal. Don't know much about them but they are very striking to see flying around the river bank.

Cardynal

Some nice shots and info there Mothman , here's another Red ( i think) from Tacumshin Co Wexford last summer.
Regards Tom.

Mothman

muckish wrote: »

Here's one I got last year by the river Lennan, Ramelton, Co.Donegal. Don't know much about them but they are very striking to see flying around the river bank.

Banded Demoiselle.

There are 2 Demoiselle species. They are the largest damselfy species in Ireland. Both are river species, Banded breed in muddy beds and Beautiful Demoiselle in pebble or sandy beds. They can occur together where both types of river beds exist adjacent to each other. Both have tinted wings. Banded as in the photo, Beautiful has all its wings tinted. The tinting applies to males only.

Banded is country wide, Beautiful southern half

Mothman

Cardynal wrote: »

Some nice shots and info there Mothman , here's another Red ( i think) from Tacumshin Co Wexford last summer.
Regards Tom.

This is Ruddy Darter. It is a Dragonfly and rests with its wings open. All of the above pictures are damselflies and they rest with wings closed or slightly ajar.

There are 2 red species of Darter that are resident. Common and Ruddy. Sometimes can be difficult to tell apart. Ruddy has slightly shorter abdomen that is slightly pinched. It is usually more red in colour.
A foolproof way of separating them is that Ruddy Darter has black legs, Common Darter has yellow stripes on legs. These stripes are not really obvious, but they make the legs not black.
Apart from the legs, the above applies to mature males. Females and immatures of both species are generally yellow in colour. Both species are late summer species though can be on the wing in June.

Cardynal

Mothman wrote: »

This is Ruddy Darter. It is a Dragonfly and rests with its wings open. All of the above pictures are damselflies and they rest with wings closed or slightly ajar.

There are 2 red species of Darter that are resident. Common and Ruddy. Sometimes can be difficult to tell apart. Ruddy has slightly shorter abdomen that is slightly pinched. It is usually more red in colour.
A foolproof way of separating them is that Ruddy Darter has black legs, Common Darter has yellow stripes on legs. These stripes are not really obvious, but they make the legs not black.
Apart from the legs, the above applies to mature males. Females and immatures of both species are generally yellow in colour. Both species are late summer species though can be on the wing in June.

Thanks for that , plenty of these guys around that day , would this be a female ?.

Mothman

Cardynal wrote: »

Thanks for that , plenty of these guys around that day , would this be a female ?.

I've just looked at your first one again and its a female! A very red one. The anal appendages at the tip of abdomen are different between sexes.

The 2nd one is also a female but I'm not sure it isn't a Common Darter. I'm trying to see if the legs are pure black or whether there is yellow on them.

Cardynal

One from today Hairy Dragonfly (i think)

Mothman

Cardynal wrote: »

One from today Hairy Dragonfly (i think)

It is, a male. Female have yellow instead of blue along abdomen.

Emperor Dragonfly are on the wing now, keep your eye out. They're just emerging so I don't expect any to be holding territory for a couple weeks

wgsten

One from the river Liffey today
Four spotted chaser

wgsten

Durnish

Jeez, what a great shot of the Chaser!

I only snapped a red over the last week as I was interested in butterflies on the wing in the sand dunes at Sheskinmore, Donegal, and was hoping to see marsh fritillaries.

CamperMan

I saw some damselflies in Co. Leitrim today, they had the most amazing electric blue body, wish I had have had the camera with me..

when do the dragonflies start to appear?

CamperMan

Cardynal wrote: »

One from today Hairy Dragonfly (i think)

nice shot!

Feargal as Luimneach

Need some identification help for my garden Damselflies

Took this one last week



This one from today I'm certain it's a Beautifull Demoiselle (male), took through telescope.

Took this one last year not too sure what it is?


Thanks for help (hopefully)

Mothman

The 3
Female Large Red Damsel/Large Red Damselfly
It is Beautiful demosielle
and last one is a female Common Bluetail/Common Blue-tailed Damselfly

Feargal as Luimneach

Thanks Mothman for that just one last one.
Is this a female Banded Demoiselle? (from last year)



Does the female large red damselfly stay that colour the whole time?

Mothman

The demoiselle is either one or the other. Its quite hard to tell females of Beautiful and Banded apart and I can't do it from photos. Beautiful has brownish wings, whereas Banded has slightly greenish wings.
But by the time the photo goes from being taken via processing at your end to screen at my end, the chances of me seeing what was the actual colour is slim.
Add in that the tinting gets stronger as the specimen ages...it alladds up to me not identifying females of these 2 species from photos.

about the Large Red, I have good photo (for me) of a pair which I'll upload sometime, but she won't change much. There are different forms with varying amount of red on abdomen but the all black abdomen as in yours and the one in my photo atays this way. The eyes may get more red and the may be a hint of red at very end of abdomen where it is currently pale.

Cardynal

Large Red + Common blue together.

Mothman

I have an Blue Emperor Emperor Dragonfly in control of my pond today. Quite early for a mature specimen. Usually they start to emerge about now and it takes 10 days or so to mature.
You know what most of my photos are like, but you get the idea of apple green body (thorax) with a blue tail (abdomen). Ireland's largest dragonfly.


I said I had photo of a pair of Large Red in tandem.



Also a pair of Azure Bluet in cop.
The sperm is being transferred. Before this the male has already passed the sperm from near end of his abdomen to under his second segment.


A damselfly emerging


and 45 minutes later, the abdomen is not fully extended yet. Basically fluid is pumped into wings to inflate them, then the fluid drains out into the abdomen and the wings dry out.

Mothman

It is utter mayhem at the pond today, would put Dublin Airport to shame

About a dozen Emperor Dragonfly
c 30-40 Four-spotted Chaser
Common Darter are now emerging
Throw in a handful of Hairy Hawkers
100s if not Thousands of Blue Damselflies, Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Azure and its likely there's be the odd Variable amongst them
Some Large Red Damselflies

I've rarely seen it so busy

Roen

So when are you going to start offering tours and charging admission, I'd love to visit!

PCPhoto

Mothman..... would also like to visit and take some pics of these beauties !!

Mothman

Ok, I'm on for that. It would be nice to have a small group. One issue with this is that dragonflies are sun creatures though if its still warm enough then they'll be in the air.

Anyone interested, please pm me and we'll see if we can get a small group.
<

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my location

Feargal as Luimneach

Mothman wrote: »

Ok, I'm on for that. It would be nice to have a small group. One issue with this is that dragonflies are sun creatures though if its still warm enough then they'll be in the air.

Anyone interested, please pm me and we'll see if we can get a small group.
<

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my location

Can I rob some dragonfly nymphs for my ponds? I only have damselflies in my garden. I've only ever seen one common darter ever in my garden:mad:











(only joking about the robbing of course:P)

Angus Og

Large Reds laying eggs. Very interesting thread, Mothman.

Mothman

Nice shot there Angus.
With most damselfly species, the male keeps hold of female while she lays. This prevents others males coming in to replace his sperm. With some species the female may even go underwater to lay, sometimes for as much as 30 minutes. Usually the male will let go if this happens.

And Feargal, I've seen it so often myself, but I am a believer that ifthe habitat is right then the dragonflies will find your pond and from what I've seen of it I would exepect other species to use it. And they may already have.....but not noticed..

littlebug

Inspired by this thread I went in search of dragonflies and damselflies

Azure Bluet I believe?


And ???



I really really want a macro lense.

Mothman

This one is a male Enallagma cyathigerum Common Bluet Common Blue Damselfly
Note, segments 8 & 9 all blue, single stripe on side of thorax. The black at end of abdomen is segment 10. I've just noticed I mislabelled this species when I was going through all the blue species in an early post.


And ???
I had to look carefully. A female, Single stripe on side of thorax ruled out Variable and Azure Bluet. So it was down to either Common Bluetail or Common Bluet and looking at the end of abdomen and the shape of spine underneath I believe it is Common Bluetail Ischnura elegans I not quite 100% sure it isn't the other though, but I would expect a more obvious spine if it was Common Bluet. Perhaps do a search using scientific names and compare pics. (I haven't done this cross referencing)


Delighted this thread is giving inspiration

Angus Og

I think this is a female blue-tailed damselfly.

This summer has been good for damselflies so far.

Mothman

Angus Og wrote: »

I think this is a female blue-tailed damselfly.

It is. There are many colour forms

littlebug

It's amazing what you don't see when you're not looking . I've started taking the camera everywhere with me. After a run this evening I decided to have a nosy around on the edge of the lake and spotted loads of these flitting around and hanging out on a wall. From looking at the dragonfly Ireland website I think it's a Black Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Mothman

littlebug wrote: »

It's amazing what you don't see when you're not looking . I've started taking the camera everywhere with me. After a run this evening I decided to have a nosy around on the edge of the lake and spotted loads of these flitting around and hanging out on a wall. From looking at the dragonfly Ireland website I think it's a Black Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

It is and at rest on stone which is typical. Have only ever seen one myself, at my pond on the only stone around my pond. I've rectified this now and have more stones.
The female is mainly yellow.

Mothman

A pair of Common Bluet. She is about to comence ovipositing/lay eggs which she did underwater into plant stem. The male let go when she went under!


He waited above


She may stay under water for more than 30 minutes before coming up for air. When finished, she is so saturated she can't fly, but they can be very efficient in using their wings to propel along surface of water to plant so she can climb out to dry off.

Common Bluetail

Gerard G

Yesterday a dragonfly struck my son in laws van mirror and as the window was open it finished up inside the van where it died. He had never seen anything like it before and out of curiousity he brought it home to us. We had never seen anything like it either and as it was such a beautifiul specimen I contacted a friend to see if he could mount it ( dont know if this is politically correct anymore ).
When I looked up the internet it seemed to me that the specimen most closely resembles a Green Darner Dragonfly - native to the Americas. From my research it appears this species has not previously been recorded in Ireland and only once in the U.K. ( Scilly Isles ) in 1998 following hurricanes in the Carribean.
When the specimen is mounted and dried out I will post some pictures. I could be totally wrong as I know absolutely nothing about dragonflies and any advice would be appreciated.
The incident occurred in West Cork between Skibbereen and Ballydehob.

Mothman

Can you get any sort of photo for now?
There is very little visual difference between Green Darner and Blue Emperor of which the latter is well established in Ireland including West Cork.

If you have considered Emperor when making your determination then please explain why you think it is not this species.

There are a couple photos of Blue Emperor in another thread though they may be female and males look a little different.

wgsten

Is this a common Blue female?

wgsten
http://www.irishflyfisher.ie/

Mothman

wgsten wrote: »

Is this a common Blue female?
wgsten

Yes it is

wgsten

Mothman wrote: »

Yes it is

Thanks Mothman.
wgsten
http://www.irishflyfisher.ie/

nilhg

A couple from yesterday morning on Pollardstown Fen



















And finally a slightly different view

Mothman

Nice variations in the Bluetails.
The 2nd last one is a male Variable Damselfly/Variable Bluet. It hasn't featured in this thread before. Often the antehumeral stripes (blue stripes on top of thorax/body) is broken. not complete as in this specimen

littlebug

no 1 taken by my 5 year old



Then he spotted this one on the ground ??



Is this a Beaded Demoiselle ? Not great angles... I couldn't get close.

tomahawk101

brilliant shots lads and was just thinking what a great resource this is. I have been meaning to learn more about damsels and dragons as I spend a lot of time just enjoying watching them. Ask me whatever about birds but to have your posts and excellent photos and explanations on here is a gem.
Seriously, thank you for posting.
Tom

Mothman

Sorry, Littlebug, overlooked this lot

littlebug wrote: »

no 1 taken by my 5 year old

A male Common Bluet/Common Blue Damselfly. Nice shot!

Then he spotted this one on the ground ??

This is what is called a teneral. One that has just emerged. It takes a few hours before they get any colour and a few days before they have the full mature colouration. This one is so recently emerged, I can't tell what species it is.

Is this a Beaded Demoiselle ? Not great angles... I couldn't get close.

Banded or Beautiful Demoiselle. Judging by the inflight photo, the colour on wing seems to be restricted to middle part which would make it Banded Demoiselle.

wgsten

Here is some from the banks of the river Barrow. The first picture is a Banded Demoiselle i am unsure of the second picture as to whether it it an imature Banded or a mature Beautiful Demoiselle. Mothman again i require your excellent help.





wgsten
http://www.irishflyfisher.ie/

Mothman

wgsten wrote: »

i am unsure of the second picture as to whether it it an imature Banded or a mature Beautiful Demoiselle. Mothman again i require your excellent help.

This is a female. Note the extra depth of the last 2 segments of the abdomen and the ovipositer (bit that lays eggs) can be seen underneath at very end.
While I'm not 100% sure it is probably Banded Demoiselle not only because of the fact that a male is nearby (though both species can be found together) but it looks more like this species also.

wgsten

Thanks Mothman. I have some more pictures of another female? if they are of any help i can post them here.
wgsten
http://www.irishflyfisher.ie/

Mothman

wgsten wrote: »

Thanks Mothman. I have some more pictures of another female? if they are of any help i can post them here.
wgsten
http://www.irishflyfisher.ie/

Won't help me, I've very little experience of female demoiselles.

littlebug

a couple I took today. I'm going round in circles on the dragonfly ireland website trying to find out what they are and all I can figure out is that the second one is a female.... something

Mothman

Common Darter and female Brown Hawker
One aspect to look at with the Hawker species are the antehumeral stripes on front half of thorax. I've circled it in the attachment. Brown Hawker has none. Note that Migrant Hawker and female Common Hawker/Moorland Hawker have short narrow stripes and from some angles they may appear to have none.
The wings on this one are quite tinted though females of other species can get dirty giving a tinted appearance