Odonata

As it was nice and warm this morning we went looking for dragonflies and damselflies around Newchurch Common. The main objective was to find the Downy Emerald ( Cordulia aenea ), and there were plenty of them flying close to the Whitegate Way between Gull Pool and Shemmy Moss. One of the few that landed long enough for a photograph was this male example.

Female Blue-tailed Damselfly, (Ischnura elegans form Rufescens) eating a mosquito.

A tandem pair of Aeshna mixta.

Male Sympetrum danae (Black Darter). Wildboarclough, Cheshire

Close view of male Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum). UK

I took a look at Newchurch Common with BITH* in search of Downy Emeralds. The sun was scarce and the temperatures low so we had to settle for a few damselflies, including this male Common Blue Damselfly.

The White-legged Damselfly ( Platycnemis pennipes ) only appeared in Cheshire in 2007 when the first specimens were seen on the Dee around Farndon. The species has probably migrated northward from the Severn where there are good populations. A walk at Farndon this afternoon proved that they are still present when I spotted this teneral female on the riverbank.

My first damselfly of 2011 and it was no surprise that it was the Large Red Damselfly ( Pyrrhosoma nymphula ). This teneral female was busy devouring a small fly at Newchurch Common.

Male Emerald Damselfly ( Lestes sponsa ) at Bennerley, Notts. This clearly shows the tendency of this species to keep the wings partly open when landed.

Male Variable Damselfly ( Coenagrion pulchellum ) at Hatchmere. This species vastly outnumbers the Azure Damselfly ( Coenagrion puella ) at this site.

A male Common Blue Damselfly ( Enallagma cyathigerum ) makes short work of a midge at Higherfence Reservoir, Macclesfield.

Sitting on the heather in the sun was this teneral female Common Blue Damselfly ( Enallagma cyathigerum ) at Newchurch Common.

The distinctive semi-openwinged stance of the Emerald Damselfly ( Lestes sponsa ) at rest is clearly seen wih this female at Delamere

Sometimes you have to look very closely to identify a damselfly. At first glance this is a male Azure Damselfly ( Coenagrion puella ), particularly as the antehumeral stripes are unbroken. It is only on close inspection that the other markings prove that it is actually the Variable Damselfly ( Coenagrion pulchellum ) once again living up to its name.

Female Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) at Newchurch Common in Cheshire. Close examination of the image reveals that she has two mites attached to her lower abdomen.

Always a spectacular sight is the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) which breeds in muddy streams and rivers. This male was photographed alongside the River Dee in Cheshire.

The more common form of female Azure Damselfly is a green and black marked insect whilst there is a blue form with more blue colour on segments 3-6 of the abdomen than the 'normal' green form. This example may be immature and could develop into the blue form but I have never before seen one this green/yellow with the extended colour on those segments. Looking for the subtle variations in markings and colour of this species is one of the joys of visiting ponds in May and June.

Female Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)at Newchurch Common, Cheshire, UK. This insect is newly emerged and has yet to develop its full colouring.