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Dragonflies and Damselflies 2011

Mothman · 2011-04-18 12:32:25

Last years thread well worth a browse I think :) Today, I have spotted 2 Large Red Damselflies emerging from my lake. I tried a time-lapse of one, but you'll see that it did so much moving around before the metamorphosis commenced that it didn't complete before the battery ran dead. It may have been camera shy. :) Every…

18-04-2011 12:32PM

#1
Mothman

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Last years thread well worth a browse I think

Today, I have spotted 2 Large Red Damselflies emerging from my lake.

I tried a time-lapse of one, but you'll see that it did so much moving around before the metamorphosis commenced that it didn't complete before the battery ran dead. It may have been camera shy. Every time I came back to camera, it had moved!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phUVpNAQRKc

I am currently taking time-lapse of the other one, which is at a more advanced state. It may move out of view or battery may not last....

Tagged:

dragonfly

damselfly

10

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#2 18-04-2011 01:47PM

littlebug

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Love it and very cool to see the real time ticking away...;)

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#3 19-04-2011 07:56AM

Mothman

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I think one of the more remarkable aspects of the emergence are the legs coming out of the original legs.

Was at another pond locally in a warmer site than my garden yesterday and there has been a mass emergence of Large Red Damselfly during past week and also a Hairy Dragonfly had just emerged yesterday.

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#4 19-04-2011 12:30PM

Mothman

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A marked increase in activity today at this other pond. So keep an eye out if you're at water.
Dozen's of Large Red Damselfly taking flight, 7 Hairy Dragonfly emerging along with yesterday's which was still there and another exuvia found makes 9 in all. Also a female Azure Damselfly was found in amongst all the Large Red Damselfly

Too windy to attempt time-lapse today, but I may visit pond early in following days to see if I can capture a Hairy Dragonfly emerging

The male Hairy Dragonfly with a crumpled wing tip

This may be why it's called Hairy Dragonfly...

One that emerged today. Head of exuvia (larval skin) in view.

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#5 20-04-2011 09:11PM

Mothman

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Another new species today. A number of Four-spotted Chasers emerging.
Not quite in focus, but i'll share it anyway.

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#6 21-04-2011 05:39PM

Mothman

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Tried another time-lapse of an emergence, but I was 30 minutes too late for the aspect I'm looking for with my tripod being too tall. Also the sea breeze picked up and it became increasingly shaky.

I'll try again tomorrow to get the "must see" that I'm after

This is a Four-spotted Chaser emerging. One of about 13 today.
The dragonfly climbed a stem just after 10am and there was a break of about 4 minutes. It looks much longer, but it was just the change in angle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f9ogKUp_TA

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#7 22-04-2011 07:31PM

Mothman

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I think this is a much better time-lapse though you don't see it fly away.
Hairy Dragonfly this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdx5RYFR_tg

My daughter loves looking at it in reverse

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#8 23-04-2011 03:09PM

Mothman

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A dew covered Four Spotted Chaser. Light wasn't very good.

This one about to take its maiden flight

The exuvia (larval skin) of Four-spotted Chaser on right emerged in morning, the adult had left by the time the one on right arrived during afternoon. Underneath is exuvia of Large Red Damselfly from some days earlier

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#9 07-05-2011 02:59PM

whyulittle

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Not mad on these things either!

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#10 08-05-2011 08:46PM

nilhg

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Two from today, down the woods quite a distance from water, I was surprised to see these.

Dragonfly by cilldara, on Flickr

Damselfly by cilldara, on Flickr

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#11 08-05-2011 08:59PM

Mothman

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Male Hairy Dragonfly/Spring Hawker and female Large Red Damselfly. A female Hairy Dragonfly/Spring Hawker in previous photo.

Dragonflies will often be far from water. They take a week a or 2 as adults before they are mature and females usually only go to water to mate and oviposit (lay eggs) Also when one consider how quick they can fly, it doesn't take long to cover a few km.

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#12 10-05-2011 03:29PM

trebor28

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each to their own eh

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#13 12-05-2011 11:19PM

thebishop

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These were taken at a man made pond (NPWS) in Glengarriff.Anyone recomend a good book on damsels.

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#14 13-05-2011 06:56AM

Mothman

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thebishop wrote: »

These were taken at a man made pond (NPWS) in Glengarriff.

These are all Large Red Damselflies. Did you see the amount of mites on the 2nd last one :eek:

Anyone recomend a good book on damsels.

While I only have the one book, I think there are 2 options.

Smallshire and Swash Britain's Dragonflies
Brooks Field guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain & Ireland

Also if you will be visiting europe...
K-D.B.Dijkstra Field guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe

I have Brooks and have not seen the other 2. The European one uses different vernacular (English names), I don't know whether Smallshire follows this or not, but I'd if I was getting a guide today, I'd probably get Smallshire which is 2010 vs Brooks 2004.

Here is a list of Dragonfly names
The names in bold are where the European guide differ from the names used by British Dragonfly Society

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#15 13-05-2011 08:13AM

Birdnuts

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i wish the weather got a bit warmer/less breezy/more humid to bring more of these delightfull creatures out to play!!

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#16 13-05-2011 12:34PM

mr socco

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Do people here feel that numbers of Dragonflies and Damselflies have increased in recent years? Think personally that they have, at least around my area anyway. I know the EPA published generally improved water quality so maybe this is having some impact!

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#17 31-05-2011 01:43PM

littlebug

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What's this one MM? Best I can do is... female...

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#18 31-05-2011 01:53PM

Mothman

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littlebug wrote: »

What's this one MM? Best I can do is... female...

Yes, I think it's a female, but immature males may have no colour either.

As for species, I'm trying to see if there is one or 2 little black stripes on side of thorax. If there is only one then it is Common Blue Damselfly/Common Bluet.

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#19 31-05-2011 02:39PM

littlebug

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Thanks MM. From a couple of other photos from slightly different angles I think there is only stripe. Common Blue it is.

I was looking out for black tailed skimmer. no sign yet.

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#20 04-06-2011 06:28AM

Durnish

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[IMG]http://[/img]Saw one Banded Demoiselle down on the Lagan, yesterday afternoon, can't decide if it's late or early

[IMG]http://[/img]

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#21 04-06-2011 07:14AM

Mothman

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Durnish wrote: »

[IMG]http://[/img]can't decide if it's late or early

Neither

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#22 04-06-2011 11:15AM

Durnish

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I was puzzled because usually there would be lots of these on the same stretch but I could only find the wan.

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#23 04-06-2011 10:18PM

Mothman

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Durnish wrote: »

I was puzzled because usually there would be lots of these on the same stretch but I could only find the wan.

I wonder if the heat had something to do with it. Perhaps they were higher up or had finished being active for the day. It should be peak season.

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#24 05-06-2011 06:03PM

V Bull

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Some Dragonflies that I saw yesterday in Wicklow..

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#25 15-06-2011 10:41AM

trebor28

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#26 18-06-2011 01:43AM

F.R.

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Banded Demoiselle I think

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#27 20-06-2011 07:11PM

mikka631

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#28 20-06-2011 08:58PM

Durnish

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oh, I can see the tell tale identity mark on that last one, now where's my dragonfly book?

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#29 20-06-2011 09:18PM

Mothman

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Durnish wrote: »

oh, I can see the tell tale identity mark on that last one, now where's my dragonfly book?

Would I spoil it for you if I add labels to the photos

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#30 21-06-2011 06:56PM

Durnish

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yes.

Azure? (Variable as a back up choice)

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#31 24-06-2011 06:27AM

wgsten

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One from the banks of the river Liffey.

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