[jeff]

Any clues to these two, common blue?, they are too new for me, i struggle when they are mature?

TIA

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by jeff

Any clues to these two, common blue?, they are too new for me, i struggle when they are mature?

TIA

Hi Jeff,

ID'ing teneral or immature specimens is far more difficult than a mature adult.
Ideally, before making any determination, I would like to see the markings on the second abdominal segment. Unfortunately these markings are not visible in your pictures. At best it would be a guess from your pictures. Sorry.

Harry

[jeff]

Originally Posted by harry eales

Hi Jeff,

ID'ing teneral or immature specimens is far more difficult than a mature adult.
Ideally, before making any determination, I would like to see the markings on the second abdominal segment. Unfortunately these markings are not visible in your pictures. At best it would be a guess from your pictures. Sorry.

Harry

Harry,

Thanks for the reply, what would your guess be from the pictures?

Cheers

Jeff

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by jeff

Harry,

Thanks for the reply, what would your guess be from the pictures?

Cheers

Jeff

Sorry Jeff,
I'm holding my tongue on this one, I don't know what species occur in your area, and, as virtually all the abdominal markings are obscured, I could be miles out.

Harry

[Brian Stone]

Come on Harry, be bold! Really down to a choice between two in that area: Azure or Common Blue and the broad ante-humeral stripes point to Common Blue (Enallagma cyathigerum). The abdo markings look right too.

[jeff]

Originally Posted by brianhstone

Come on Harry, be bold! Really down to a choice between two in that area: Azure or Common Blue and the broad ante-humeral stripes point to Common Blue (Enallagma cyathigerum). The abdo markings look right too.

Thanks,

I think they were taken at Rutland water last weekend, by a friend of mine. I've told him common blue, but i thought i'd check with you guys to see if i was right :-)
I'll stick with common blue then Brian, unless Harry unleashes his tongue upon us ;-)

Cheers

Jeff

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by jeff

Thanks,

I think they were taken at Rutland water last weekend, by a friend of mine. I've told him common blue, but i thought i'd check with you guys to see if i was right :-)
I'll stick with common blue then Brian, unless Harry unleashes his tongue upon us ;-)

Cheers

Jeff

Alright Jeff and Brian,
I'd hate to disappoint you, Common Blue Damselfly.

Harry

[jeff]

Originally Posted by harry eales

Alright Jeff and Brian,
I'd hate to disappoint you, Common Blue Damselfly.

Harry

Thanks :-)

[Angus T]

Absolutely a male Common blue. Note that there is only a single stripe on side of thorax,(I know not the clearest) others have 2. Also the flight season is drawing to a close for Azure, and it would be extremely unusual to have emergence this late in year. This is ceratinly the case with me as I probably won't see another Azure Damselfy this year.

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by Angus T

Absolutely a male Common blue. Note that there is only a single stripe on side of thorax,(I know not the clearest) others have 2. Also the flight season is drawing to a close for Azure, and it would be extremely unusual to have emergence this late in year. This is ceratinly the case with me as I probably won't see another Azure Damselfy this year.

Hello Angus,
Things must be over pretty fast in Ireland. I get Azure well into late August and occasionally early Sept. I was out on the Otterburn Moors (military ranges) last Sunday and although Azure doesn't occur there I did find several teneral specimens of Pyrrhosoma nymphula. Maybe it's because where I live it's cold, wet, and miserable most of the year. Azure is still very common on all the lowland none acidic pools.

Harry

[Angus T]

Originally Posted by harry eales

Hello Angus,
Things must be over pretty fast in Ireland. I get Azure well into late August and occasionally early Sept. I was out on the Otterburn Moors (military ranges) last Sunday and although Azure doesn't occur there I did find several teneral specimens of Pyrrhosoma nymphula. Maybe it's because where I live it's cold, wet, and miserable most of the year. Azure is still very common on all the lowland none acidic pools.

Harry

Looks like I should refrain from making sweeping comments about flight times. Things are clearly different between regions. Azure damselfly was practically over with me by end of June. Peak numbers were 100s in May and early June, but I saw only 2 individuals in July!

[harry eales]

Originally Posted by Angus T

Looks like I should refrain from making sweeping comments about flight times. Things are clearly different between regions. Azure damselfly was practically over with me by end of June. Peak numbers were 100s in May and early June, but I saw only 2 individuals in July!

Hi Angus,
Your probably right about different flight times in different regions, I seldom see teneral Azures until the last week in May. Most butterflies and moths are also appear much later here, than in Ireland or southern England.

Harry

[jeff]

Again, thanks for the confirmation of common blue and a male at that :-)

Cheers

Jeff