Dragonfly ID Pointers (4 Viewers)

HarassedDad · Apr 26, 2007

Just a thought for the new season: If you would like to get an ID of exuvae found, the significant shots to photograph are:
1 A shot from directly above looking down (to see the spines on the sides and the anal protuberances)
2 A shot from the side (to see the spines that run down the middle of the back)
3 A shot of the underside showing the mask.(needed to distinguish the hawkers)
Nice to have would be a shot from the front showing the head and eye position.

Ashton.P · Jun 14, 2007

Link to a composite photo showing the key differences between Variable, Azure and Common Blue Damelflies. In all species there can be some variability, and it's best to not solely rely on one identification feature.

http://www.erdragonflies.co.uk/id/bluedamselflies.htm

Brian Stone · Jun 14, 2007

Useful resource Paul. There is a further feature separating Variable from Azure not mentioned. There is a thin blue bar joining the post-occular spots on the top of the head on Variable. Can be seen on this typical male.

It's a good point about the variability. The first one I saw at this site was far less conclusive with almost complete ante-humeral stripes and a very indistinct 'wine glass stem'. It's worth noting that Variable usually look more dainty and slender than Azure.

Ashton.P · Jun 14, 2007

Brian Stone said:
There is a further feature separating Variable from Azure not mentioned. There is a thin blue bar joining the post-occular spots on the top of the head on Variable.

Is this reliable?
A quick look at photographs in 'Smallshire and Swash' would indicate that this isn't the case. Some of the male Variables don't have this mark and some are reduce to two faint spots, rather than a bar. A photograph of a male Azure has two faint spots, and a female has a full bar present.

There is variability, and extreme variations can occur in most species. The key its to not rely on one feature alone, but base the identification on at least two. Even the whisky tumbler mark on an Azure can sometimes have a stalk, which means you need to be able to fall back on the crown markings on segment 9.

Another downfall can be complacency. For example at Tophill Low in East Yorkshire, Azure peaks earlier than Common Blue. When Azure starts to become less noticeable and Common Blue starts to peak, many observers continue to log Azure as the most abundant species and have not noticed the shift change. This also happens with the different habitat preferences on the same site. Azure prefers the northern end of the site, and Common Blue the southern end, once you are familiar with this, it really becomes apparent how inaccurately recorded these two species can be.

I've also added a composite photograph of male hawker at the following link:-

http://www.erdragonflies.co.uk/id/malehawkers.htm

Brian Stone · Jun 14, 2007

You are probably correct. I have a feeling this is more reliable in females.

Seamoor · Jun 22, 2007

Dragonflys we have had at pond

Hi

In a small 8 x 6 pond so far this year we have 8 dragon fly emerge, At the moment we have two which are still on the iris leaves, I think this is dure to all the rain we have had, one has been there 4 days and the other 2.

harry eales · Jun 22, 2007

Seamoor said:
Hi

In a small 8 x 6 pond so far this year we have 8 dragon fly emerge, At the moment we have two which are still on the iris leaves, I think this is dure to all the rain we have had, one has been there 4 days and the other 2.

Hello Seamoor,

Are these adult Dragonflies resting, or are they just the cast nymphal skins your seeing. These stay on the emergence post or position until either the wind or rain wash them off.

Harry

Binocularface · Jun 26, 2007

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Adey Baker said:
Anybody got any Scarce Blue-tail photos to put on here?

Sorry Adey - Not very spectacular I am afraid!

Binocularface · Jun 26, 2007

Northern Damselfly

Here are some Northern Damselfly pics to add to the thread.

Key ID points for males:

Underside of eyes and thorax are bright green
'spade' shaped marking on segment 2 - though this can be variable
2 short black lines on side of thorax
The anal appendages are diagnostic in the male - though not really identifiable in the images attached!

Binocularface · Jun 26, 2007

Irish Damselfly

And some Irish Damselfly...................

Key ID Points for males:

Dark in general appearance with black segments interspersed with thin areas of blue - segments 8 & 9 are predominantly blue
Green colouration on underside of eye, side of thorax
Crescent shape on segment 2 - though some variability on this feature

Binocularface · Jun 27, 2007

Azure Hawker

Azure Hawker (male) ID pointers:

Blue & Black abdomen (lacks any yellow markings)
Very short blueish antehumeral stripe
Narrow bluish stripes on side of thorax
Short eye contact (the contact area between the eyes should be roughly equal to the length of the occipital triangle)
Lacks bright yellow or brown colouration to the costa

Binocularface · Jun 27, 2007

Northern Emerald - Female

As I only have pics of a female - this will concentrate on the ID points of female Northern Emerald:

Very dark green overall colouration
Broad base to abdomen
Large bright yellow spots on sides of segment 2 (much reduced in Brilliant and absent in Downy)
Yellowish spots on raised area below antehumeral region
Small yellow spots on sides of fronds (very estensive in Brilliant and absent in Downy)
Vulva scale under segment 8 held parrallel (right angle in Brilliant and does not protrude in Downy)

paul mabbott · Jul 12, 2007

Odonata recognition course

Anyone in Derbushire or the north Midlands might be interested in this.

Still places on this course going begging:

KNOW YOUR DRAGONS AND DAMSELS

Saturday 11th August £17 (£13 DWT members)

10am to 4pm

Hilton Gravel Pits and Hilton Scout Hut

Tutor: Dave Goddard

Must be pre-booked.

Come along and learn how to identify these beautiful insects as they fly around the ponds at Hilton. An inside session will be followed by an afternoon walk, to put into practice what we have learnt in the morning.

Ring 01773 881188 in office hours to book.

Nikon Kid · Aug 4, 2007

Differences in the Male Red-eyed Damselfly and the Male Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Differences in the Male Red-eyed Damselfly and the Male Small Red-eyed Damselfly

The 1st image is of the Red-eyed Damselfly segments 9 & 10 Blue

The 2nd image is of the Small Red-eyed Damselfly Segments 2 & 8 plus
9 & 10 are blue segment 8 is only blue bottom & Sides see arrows
Also on segment 10 tip of the abdomen looks like a X

Small Red-eyed is about 4/5mm shorter

paul mabbott · Aug 16, 2007

Help with Basque dragonfly

This was walking long the road near Elantxobe (Euskadi, N. Spain) last week amidst limestone oak woodland - no wet places that I could see. Any suggestions? PS: I moved it Somewhere safer!

wint · Aug 16, 2007

paul mabbott said:
This was walking long the road near Elantxobe (Euskadi, N. Spain) last week amidst limestone oak woodland - no wet places that I could see. Any suggestions? PS: I moved it Somewhere safer!

From memory the thorax and abdomen pattern looks like Onychogomphus uncatus but I don't have my books here and my memory's not quite as sharp as it once was!

HTH

DJW · Aug 17, 2007

I am glad I found this thread!

Over the weekend I decided to digiscope some dragonflies for a change and as I know virtually nothing about them I was hoping somebody can help with ID.

No. 1: I guess this might be a Common Blue as there were dozens of them around.

Nos 2,3: Ruddy Darter?

No. 4: Haven't a clue!

Really must buy a fieldguide.

Regards

Dave

Binocularface · Aug 17, 2007

DJW said:
I am glad I found this thread!

Over the weekend I decided to digiscope some dragonflies for a change and as I know virtually nothing about them I was hoping somebody can help with ID.

No. 1: I guess this might be a Common Blue as there were dozens of them around.

Nos 2,3: Ruddy Darter?

No. 4: Haven't a clue!

Really must buy a fieldguide.

Regards

Dave

Dave - It would have probably been better to start a new thread with your questions so that this thread could be specifically for ID pointers.
However I agree with your first three identifications. The fourth image shows a Black-tailed Skimmer.

Regards
Tristan

DJW · Aug 17, 2007

Tristan R said:
Dave - It would have probably been better to start a new thread with your questions so that this thread could be specifically for ID pointers.

Regards
Tristan

Sorry:-C :-C

Tristan R said:
However I agree with your first three identifications. The fourth image shows a Black-tailed Skimmer.

Regards
Tristan

Thanks for the info.

Regards

Dave

Dave mac · Nov 8, 2007

No dragonflies around here at the moment but as a new member I was reading some of the old threads and came across Adeys post on telling the difference between the common blue and azure damselflies. I have lots of pictures of common blues but did not realise how close they looked to the azure. A quick flick through them turned up an azure|:d|which is a new "tick"
cheers
Dave

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