Lesbos Dragonflies2 (1 Viewer)

Hi, 2 more for ID, thanks

Second one is Red-veined Darter

The first I think - never seen one - is an immature male Small Skimmer (Orthetrum taeniolatum)

The second is a female Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata)

I'm always happy to learn - what distinguishes this from RVD?

Welsh Peregrine said:

I'm always happy to learn - what distinguishes this from RVD?

Click to expand...

There are at least 9 1/2 Ax (antenodal crossveins) in the forewing. (I think there are exactly 9 1/2 but the lighting makes it a bit difficult to see).

Trithemis have 9.5-12.5 Ax and sympetrum have 8 or fewer Ax in the forewing.

A female RVD (and most sympetrum females) has two rows of black dashes along the abdomen sides - one centrally and one lower down- a female Violet Dropwing(VDW) has just one and usually not as obvious.

The pattern on the side of the first few segments is quite different - best seen by looking at a few images on http://www.dragonflypix.com/

Even with a side view you can see the black going down the side of the frons in a RVD - the black doesn't go down the side of the frons in a VDW.

RVD has striped legs, VDW has black legs.

There are probably differences in venation too but I can't remember them!

HTH

Agree with Paul re. ID, and the age of the Small Skimmer. Both these species relatively widespread on the island from early to mid-May. Small Skimmers were on the wing last week of April this year, and Violet Dropwing from first week of May.