[M Cowming]

Hi guys,

Any ideas?

[138mph]

I assume all taken in Ireland?
1=Large Red (male)
2=Azure (male) (I'm reasonably sure)
3=Beautiful Demoiselle (male)
4=Black-tailed Skimmer (male)

[M Cowming]

sorry,

should have specified..all taken in germay!

[138mph]

Hmm, maybe 4 is not a BT Skimmer, wasn't sure but there was nothing else to match and 2 is a bit difficult. I huess you need someone with German knowledge to confirm the IDs.

[M Cowming]

Thanks for your comments anyway 138.

I'll try to get more in the near future.

regards

[Surreybirder]

I cannot make out very much detail on my screen but I cannot see anything against the fast guy's IDs! There's an excellent web site in German of Odonata. If I can find it I'll post the URL.

Edit Click HERE.
In the past I've managed to get it translated via Google, though it's pretty hilarious (I think it translates dragonflies as anvils, if I remember correctly). HTH
Ken

[M Cowming]

Thanks Ken...would be great if you found it.

[138mph]

Try this one as well, it has some excellent images of European(and some Australian) odonata.

http://www.libellen.nl/europa/

It also has links to lots of other odonata sites

-----
Hugh
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hugh.griffiths/

[Th. Stegmann]

Hi!
I first had to look up the english names, but the first guess of 138mph is right!
All but the Beautiful Demoiselle are very common in Germany!

[138mph]

Yes, I should have given the latin names:
1=Large Red damselfly (male) Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Frühe Adonislibelle)
2=Azure damselfly (male) Coenagrion puella (Hufeisen-Azurjungfer)
3=Beautiful Demoiselle (male) Calopteryx virgo (Blauflügel-Prachtlibelle)
4=Black-tailed Skimmer (male) Orthetrum cancellatum (Große Blaupfeil)
in brackets are my understanding of their common names in Germany.

Hugh

[M Cowming]

Hi guys and thanks for your combined and very informative answers regarding the ID's.

Here's one more for ye...also taken in Germany.

Regards,

[Surreybirder]

You've been busy.
My guess would be red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombei) immature male. But I'm probably wrong... in fact, I'm now heading more towards common darter (S striolatum)!
Ken

[Th. Stegmann]

I think it´s nearly impossible to say which species it belongs to.
According to the "shiny" wings and light wingmarks (pterostigma) it is a fresh individual. And to me there is no doubt about it being a female Sympetrum, most likely S. vulgatum (has yellow-black-striped legs) or S. sanguineum (has all black legs).
Greetings

[138mph]

I think that it is a Sympetrum sanguineum(female) - Ruddy darter (Blutrote Heidelibelle)


Hugh

[M Cowming]

Well, we seem to have a debate going here. Good stuff but unfortunately I'm of little help. Not great at ID's for dragonflies but am genuinely interested in learning. I'm getting some great shots of butterflies etc at the moment...the birds are too fast.

Keep up the good IDing job guys.

[Surreybirder]

Originally Posted by M Cowming

Well, we seem to have a debate going here. Good stuff but unfortunately I'm of little help. Not great at ID's for dragonflies but am genuinely interested in learning. I'm getting some great shots of butterflies etc at the moment...the birds are too fast.

Keep up the good IDing job guys.

The very pale pterostigmata were what made me think of red-veined darter to start with. But it seems to be a rarity in Germany. I think Th's explanation--that it's a teneral specimen--must be correct (though the thorax and abdomen are well coloured). I've posted a link on WestPalOdos to see if anyone else wants to express a more expert view!
Ken

[steve covey]

In the past I've managed to get it translated via Google, though it's pretty hilarious (I think it translates dragonflies as anvils, if I remember correctly). HTH
Ken[/quote]

Actually Ken its 'Spirit Level' not anvil Thinking out loud I wonder if the translation might be more accurately translated as 'spirit of the levels' as in Somerset Leves or marshes/wetlands - just a thought.
Cheers,

Steve.

[steve covey]

Originally Posted by M Cowming

Well, we seem to have a debate going here. Good stuff but unfortunately I'm of little help. Not great at ID's for dragonflies but am genuinely interested in learning. I'm getting some great shots of butterflies etc at the moment...the birds are too fast.

Keep up the good IDing job guys.

Hi all,
my thoughts on this [and please don't take them as definitive!].
From the features that can be determined from the photo the legs appear to be black/yellow striped which would rule out S. sanguineum; just visible is what appears to be quite a strong black dorsal stripe which would cancel out S. striolatum [which only has a faint dorsal line] so this would make it S. vulgatum [Vagrant Darter].
As always, I stand to be corrected. You couldn't go back and get some more pics could you
Cheers,

Steve.

[Surreybirder]

Originally Posted by steve covey

Actually Ken its 'Spirit Level' not anvil Thinking out loud I wonder if the translation might be more accurately translated as 'spirit of the levels' as in Somerset Leves or marshes/wetlands - just a thought.
Cheers,

Steve.

Ah, what it is to have a good memory, Steve!
But I do remember that the Turkish word for helicopter is the same as their word for dragonfly... which seems appropriate

[Surreybirder]

It's well worth looking at this German site, spirit levels or not:
http://translate.google.com/translat...UTF-8%26sa%3DG
Or: http://www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/bio3/...tml/start.html
If you prefer it in German.