It’s remarkable how many different insect species there are around if you go and look, and notice the various colours and sizes instead of just thinking ‘butterfly’ or ‘bumblebee’. Damselflies are the smaller, more delicate relatives of dragonflies. There were at least three species, and possibly four, in the garden today. I got pictures of some of them. This is a Large Red Damselfly:
A Common Blue An Azure Damselfly:
I’ve always assumed this one, which has distinctive grey/silver wings, was a different species, but looking around on Google it may possibly be an alternative colour form of the female Azure:
EDIT: apparently grey wings are typical of newly hatched dragonflies – ‘teneral’ in the jargon – so this is probably a teneral Azure Damselfly.
Pretty, aren’t they.
As well as those, and the Blue tailed Damselfly which I didn’t get a photo of, I’ve also seen at least one other species in the garden in the past – the Red Eyed Damselfly. And that’s without counting the ‘proper’ dragonflies.
4 replies on “Damselflies”
Beautiful shots of beautiful creatures.
Thanks Howard.
You and I are not the first to note that there is value in looking closely at the things of the world. Ruskin drew them, you photograph. I usually just stare mindlessly. :)
Ah, Ruskin. In some ways I think I should read some Ruskin, but it feels like it would be a bit of a chore.
I’m a great believer that no matter how spectacular the landscape, if you don’t notice the flowers and beetles around your feet, you’re missing half the action.