This is perhaps the easiest damselfly to identify that you are likely to encounter in this area. They are commonly found near and around the edges of ponds and rivers, flying out over the water where there are surface plants on which to lay their eggs.īelow are descriptions of the males, as females are often more difficult to identify, with some of them having two or three variants. Flight zone: 1 and 2ĭamselflies tend to be smaller than dragonflies and fly with a slower more delicate flight. It also lacks the powder blue colouring of the broad-bodied chaser. The four spot has, as its name implies, four wing spots, two per wing. The only other confusion could occur with its close relative the four spot chaser. The powder blue colour tends to wear off and fade as it gets older and some confusion may occur with the black tail skimmer, but black tail skimmers are lighter built and do not have the dark wing markings. It often gives the impression of chasing other insects through the water margin foliage, hence its name classification “chaser”. The female is more of a constant brown, with no blue, but still with the distinctive yellow half circle marking.īoth male and female have brown triangular markings on both wing bases at the thorax and only one wing spot per wing The male’s head and thorax is brown in colour, but the abdomen is a soft pale powder blue with small yellow half circle shapes down both sides. Its abdomen is wider and flatter than the typical cylinder shape of most dragonflies. The broad body chaser is smaller than the emperor but more heavily built. Dragonfliesĭragonflies are generally powerful and fast fliers, often seen quartering the air over a pond or darting out from a foliage perch to catch insects. Here is Alan’s spotter’s guide to help you to identify them. If you have a pond in your garden, or pass a pond or stream when walking, you may spot some early flying odonata. Identifying early flying dragonflies and damselflies The scientific name for dragonflies and damselflies is odanatan, and you can find a useful diagram on (link to: )
This is divided into ten sections which we number S1 to S10, with S1 being closest to the thorax.
#Female common bluetail damselfly free#
Just sit on the riverbank or pondside and enjoy the spectacle of the free aerial display as they twist and turn in the sunshine.Ĭharacteristics of dragonflies and damselflies Dragonflies can be very inquisitive and quite often come right up to you to see what you are doing. Members of the biodiversity survey team have even had their clipboard used as a lookout point by an opportunist dragonfly.įor the health of our dragonfly and damselfly populations please do not disturb them. Orange-pink with a blue abdomen spot ( rufescens ) which mature to be brown ( infuscans-obseleta ).Contrary to popular belief, dragonflies and damselflies do not have a sting and their bite, although deadly to other insects, is not strong enough to break our skin. At least 5 different colour forms: violet ( violacea ) which mature to be blue ( typica ) or olive-green with a brown abdomen spot ( infuscans ).
Female: light spot at the end of the abdomen (segment 8).Immature males have a green thorax that only becomes blue with age. Two blue ante-humeral stripes on top of the thorax. Male: light-blue spot at the end of the abdomen (segment 8).Red eyes and its bright abdomen spot is lower down on segment 9-10. Its bright abdomen spot is lower down on segment 9. Found in a very wide range of lowland habitats including brackish or polluted water where it may be the only species present.
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