Dragonfly ID Pointers (1 Viewer)

[RedbournPhil]

Query

This was over my garden pond yesterday - hope the link works.

http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/679766



Phil

 

[harry eales]

This was over my garden pond yesterday - hope the link works.

http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/679766



Phil

Aggghhhhhhh. The dreaded Large Red Damselfly. lol.

Harry

 

[nialltkeogh]

Brilliant thread!!!

 

[busyb]

As Southern Damselfly "Coenagrion mercuriale" has not appeared on this thread yet, I thought I`d add it.

Southern is the smallest of the blue Damselflies.
It is found on small steams & flushes in southern England, south Wales & Anglesey.
The male has a "Mercury" mark on S2, and spear marks on S3 & S4.
The female,though a blue form exists, normally has an abdomen which is dull green below & mainly black above,with a Thistle shape on S2, there are blue divisions between the last few segments ( Distinct from Small Red "Melanogastrum" form which has red divisions.

 

[Neil-T]

Great thread

Some amazing photo's and very knowledgeable people here. I am quite new to this, I got this shot of what I think is a Female emerald damselfly. Not seen one on here yet so thought I would post it. Neil.

 

[Dougie Preston]

Many thanks to everybody for amazing photos and information. I reckon I better practice my photography skills and invest in a decent macro lens.

 

[G Bond]

Great thread which I've just found. I've got some lestes shots I will try and post once I've worked out how to do so.

Its a bit subjective but generally I find Common Blue Damsel is paler blue than Azure and likes larger bodies of water

 

[armadillo]

Dragonfly Pictures

For your consideration....my Dragonfly Pictures section was organized around this thread's Dragonfly Identification theme.

It focuses on North American dragonflies, and in most cases, species field identification tips are provided along with pictures of male and female specimens.

Dragonfly watching can be an enjoyable exercise in and of itself. Its utility expands when the fact that the presence of dragonflies in an area indicates good water quality, is taken into consideration.

 

[pdwinter]

Variable Variable

I've made this composite picture of three male Variable Damselflies which probably won't help ID but does show three very different antehumerals. All taken today (5/6/10) near Reading.

 

[The Hairy Highlander]

Believe it or not this is the first 'Dragon' I've seen this year!!...Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's a Common Darter....

P.s. like others have said, some amazing photo's on this thread!! :eek!::t:

 

[Lightthiscandle]

Emeralds

Couple of Norfolk specialities for comparison: Southern Emerald and Willow Emerald

 

[Lightthiscandle]

Two more Emeralds

For comparison, another Willow Emerald (showing bicoloured pterostigmata) and a 'common' Emerald Damsel.

 

[pdwinter]

Winter Damselfly Sympecma fusca

Since we are now inundated with this species (well there have been two anyway!), I've put together some composite pics which might help.

I can see why the most recent one was thought to be a (female) Common Blue Damselfly but Winter Damselfly has appendages that are like our White-legged Damselfly or emerald damselfly species.