Damselflies

The Order of dragonflies, Odonata, from the Greek odontos 'tooth', is further divided into 2 sub-orders:

• True dragonflies (as opposed to damselflies) belong to the sub-order Anisoptera, meaning 'unequal-winged';
• Whilst damselflies belong to the sub-order Zygoptera, meaning 'paired wings'.

Damselflies are generally smaller than dragonflies, are weak fliers and at rest will hold their wings closed along the abdomen. Their eyes are always separated, never touching. All four of their wings are the same size and shape, hence the sub-order name. The only exceptions to this are the Emeralds, who often hold their wings partly open at rest.

The sub-order Zygoptera contains several families of damselfly:

• Demoiselles - Calopterygidae;
• Red and Blue/black damselflies - Coenagrionidae;
• Emerald damselflies - Lestidae;
• White-legged damselflies - Platycnemididae;

There are about 20 species to be seen in Great Britain and Ireland, but their distribution varies greatly. Some are abundant and widespread, whilst others are restricted to small areas of a particular habitat.

On this page, there are some images of the various species of damselfly that I have been fortunate to see, identify and photograph.

Most photographs are taken with a Canon 450D fitted with a 300mm prime lens, hand held. Other than reducing the file size to improve the speed of loading and display, all images are 'as is'. That's warts and all, no sniff of digital enhancement or post production editing. If it looks rubbish, you now know why!

Demoiselles

Beautiful Demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo

Male holding territory over a stream, Westonbury Mill water garden, Herefordshire, Sep 2013

Female resting in the sun, Westonbury Mill water garden, Herefordshire, Sep 2013

Banded Demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens

Red and Blue/black damselflies

Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Male eating prey, Long Mynd, Shropshire, Jul 2013

Small Red Damselfly, Ceriagrion tenellum

Red-eyed Damselfly, Erythromma najas

Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Erythromma viridulum

Northern Damselfly, Coenagrion hastulatum

Southern Damselfly, Coenagrion mercuriale

Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella

Variable Damselfly, Coenagrion pulchellum

Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum

Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura elegans

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura pumilio

Emerald damselflies

Emerald Damselfly, Lestes sponsa

Southern Emerald Damselfly, Lestes barbarus

Scarce Emerald Damselfly, Lestes dryas

Willow Emerald Damselfly, Lestes viridis

White-legged damselflies

White-legged Damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes