Dave Smith
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Beetle and Damselfly ID please (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dave Smith
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SleepyLizard
Well-known member
Yep it's a Dor beetle Anoplotrupes stercorosus . I've seen more this year than ever (well out of 6 years since being here anyway)
Last edited:
SleepyLizard
Well-known member
CJW said:
I've met loads of immature adults
Seriously though, after they emerge it takes up to several weeks to become sexually mature and during this time they also change their colouring.
SleepyLizard
Well-known member
CJW said:
Well according to the glossary linked below there is a subtle difference.
immature - adult past teneral stage but still not with mature coloration; usually not at water
teneral - adult after it has just emerged, soft and not definitively colored
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/ODglossary.html
harry eales
Ancient Entomologist
Angus T said:
Angus is correct it is an immature spm of P.nymphula Large Red Damselfly. The red colour will be darker when full mature. I saw several today at ponds in the Kielder Forest. Can't help with the Beetle, sorry I don't do Coleoptera.
Harry
The term teneral seems to have different meaning in different parts of these islands. for me I only use teneral during the day or day after emergence, and to me is highly suggestive that the sighting is at or nearby emergence site.CJW said:
I used the term immature once and it was understood as being a nymph, so I've added adult to make that distinction. So I use immature adult for between what I term a teneral and full colouration adult
Dave Smith
Well-known member
Thanks for all the feedback and an insight into the terminology. I'm pleased that I managed to get the Dor beetle correct.
As far as the Large Red Damselfly goes, I cannot see from my copy of Brooks & Lewington any real similarity between my photo and the pictures in the book. I am very much a beginner at this, but how did you tell? I did realise that it was probably only recently emerged and so ignored the colour in looking for an ID. I tried to see any pattern in the black marks down its back - without success.
Thanks for your help.
Dave
As far as the Large Red Damselfly goes, I cannot see from my copy of Brooks & Lewington any real similarity between my photo and the pictures in the book. I am very much a beginner at this, but how did you tell? I did realise that it was probably only recently emerged and so ignored the colour in looking for an ID. I tried to see any pattern in the black marks down its back - without success.
Thanks for your help.
Dave
Surreybirder
Ken Noble
There are only two red damselfly species in Europe. This is clearly an adult that has not acquired its full colour yet... but it's not hard to tell that it's going to be red. Small red damselfy is not closely related and much more restricted in range. If you imagine the animal with all the yellowish bits as red, it looks v. like the illustration in Brooks and Lewington!
I have 1999 version of Brooks and illustrated in it are 3 forms of female Large red. The black markings on top of the abdomen match that of f. intermedia. As Ken says, its obvious whats going to be red. The thorax colouration will change as well but the pattern matches as well.
With the blues, once they've been emerged for a few hours it can be seen what it going to be blue in them, though it may take days to get to the full blue colouration.
HTH
With the blues, once they've been emerged for a few hours it can be seen what it going to be blue in them, though it may take days to get to the full blue colouration.
HTH
Dave Smith
Well-known member
Ok thanks for that. I think my main mistake was not realising that it would be red. I also thought that intermedia was the closest but it didn't seem quite right near the end.
Dave
Dave
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