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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RoyW" data-source="post: 1555726" data-attributes="member: 71737">Malcolm - congratulations on your find, from the sound of it you may have discovered the biggest British colony to date (if we can call them colonies at this stage!).On identification - I would agree that if you are familier with Common Emerald Damselfly this species is immediately recognisable as different, appearing large and slim as Malcolm has stated. The main potential pitfall is some recently emerged Common Emerald D's. These lack any blue pruinescence, can have a (less prominent) green spur on the side of the thorax, and the pterostigma start off white when first emerged and gradually darken - so they can be pale (see the image in this link).<a href="http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=39045" target="_blank">http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=39045</a>If you are lucky enough to find a male the black tipped white abdomenal appendages, with short lower appendages are diagnostic (Eastern Willow Emerald is extremely unlikely!)No problems with yours though Malcolm!On habitat -Like Common Emerald Damselfly, Willow Emerald D is very catholic in it's choice of breeding water. Willow Emeralds lay their eggs in the bark of trees/bushes overhanging the water, so for them it is the surrounding trees that are important (this doesn't mean that they don't use shallow, or dried up ponds, though - they will if the trees are there).One other thing - don't expect them to always be out in the sunshine, on warm days I have more often found this species under trees on the continent, sometimes in deep shade.Roy.</blockquote>

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