[6] Many damselflies (e.g. Lestidae, Platycnemidae, Coenagrionidae) have clear wings, but some (Calopterygidae, Euphaeidae) have coloured wings, whether uniformly suffused with colour or boldly marked with a coloured patch. [23], The nymphs proceed through about a dozen moults as they grow. Males have a predominantly blue abdomen with black spots that resemble rings. They fly for a long distance and spend most of their time in the larvae stage. The Common Blue Damselfly measures anywhere from 32 to 35 mm (1.3 to 1.4 in) in length. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on July 31, 2018: And the photos were spectacular....did you take them? They also inhabit shady, wooded areas, darting here and there as they go about their business of finding food and a mate. A semi realistic but quick tie for a perfect adult blue damsel that works extremely well when they are on the water. [35] Swift forktail (Ischnura erratica) males display to each other with their blue-tipped abdomens raised. Common Blue Damselflies Form Mating Wheel, Charles J Sharp [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Com. One of my most simple patterns. :D. Thanks for stopping by, Bill. The size of the damselflies two pair of wings is of the same size and shape. One of the most common damselflies in the UK. Description. It is common in all of Europe, except for Iceland. In tropical South America, heli… [45] Flying in tandem has the advantage that less effort is needed by the female for flight and more can be expended on egg-laying, and when the female submerges to deposit eggs, the male may help to pull her out of the water. [9], In general, damselflies are smaller than dragonflies, the smallest being members of the genus Agriocnemis (wisps). While she is underwater, the male stands guard till she resurfaces. The only other creature that compares with their colour is the peacock. [53] The willow emerald Chalcolestes viridis (a spreadwing) is unusual in laying eggs only in woody plant tissue, choosing thin twigs of trees that hang over water, and scarring the bark in the process. The haemolymph is then pumped back into the abdomen, which also expands fully. Having one hover near you meant it weighed your soul in judgment. Often they hover among grasses and low vegetation, picking prey off stems and leaves with their spiny legs. On a hot day, the cuticle hardens rapidly and the adult can be flying away within half an hour. A dark stripe known as the humeral stripe runs from the base of the front wings to the second pair of legs, and just in front of this is the pale-coloured, antehumeral stripe. Enallagma cyathigerum (common blue damselfly, common bluet, or northern bluet) is a species found mainly between latitudes 40°N and 72°N; It is widely distributed in the Palearctic, and the Nearctic species Enallagma annexum was at one time considered to be synonymous with it. 1.1 Etymology; 1.2 Pronunciation; 1.3 Noun. [59] In Hawaii, the introduction of the mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) was effective in controlling mosquitoes but nearly exterminated the island's endemic damselflies. When the time is right, the nymphs will climb a plant stem to a point above the water line. Like dragonflies, they reproduce using indirect insemination and delayed fertilisation. Who We Are; CONTACT US; Species; Data; Archives. Damselfly refers to a slender insect which belong to the order Odonata and sub-order Zygoptera. The nymphs are aquatic, with different species living in a variety of freshwater habitats including acid bogs, ponds, lakes and rivers. In spring they hatch out in the meltwater pools and the nymphs complete their development before these temporary pools dry up. Zulma Burgos-Dudgeon (author) from United Kingdom on July 30, 2018: Thank you, Mary. At any rate, I'm pleased you liked it and I appreciate your stopping by. Damselfly nymphs swim by fish-like undulations, the gills functioning like a tail. This is understandable as they both come from the order Odonata. I need to get my camera out and go see if there are any our way. The Common Blue Damselfly is a favourite subject of mine for photographing. The effects of climate change: disrupted weather patterns that cause rainy summers can mean that the weak emergent adults won’t survive without sufficient sunlight; Dragon and damselfly species in the UK There are 57 recorded species of Odonata in the UK, too many to list here. While there it engages in wing-clapping, the exact function of which is unknown. A young woman or girl; a maiden. The damselfly and I play this cat-and-mouse game every year. Adult male blue-tailed damselflies have a head and thorax patterned with blue and black. Length 30-34mm. [50] The spreadwings lay eggs above the waterline late in the year and the eggs overwinter, often covered by snow. Englisch-Deutsch-Übersetzungen für damsel im Online-Wörterbuch dict.cc (Deutschwörterbuch). Many believed they were on the lookout for bad souls. You're lucky to have taken these pictures. Some large varieties will also ensnare butterflies, moths and, sometimes, smaller dragonflies and other damselflies. [6] The desert shadowdamsel (Palaemnema domina) aggregates to roost in thick places near streams in the heat of the day. The exoskeleton hardens and the colours become more vivid over the course of the next few days. A blue Dragonfly is a channel of new beginnings. The tenth segment in both sexes bears cerci and in males, its underside bears a pair of paraprocts. [17][18] Dragonflies are more affected by pollution than are damselflies. lol. Damselflies are insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. It then waits for its outer shell to dry and split. The male attempts to prevent rivals from removing his sperm and inserting their own,[50] a form of sperm competition (the sperms of the last mated male have the greatest chance of fertilizing the eggs, also known as sperm precedence[51]) made possible by delayed fertilisation[41][44] and driven by sexual selection. [56], Damselflies are hemimetabolous insects that have no pupal stage in their development. The Common Blue Damselfly, enallagma cyathigerum, can be found all over Europe apart from Iceland. That's a real treat. In Sweden, dragonflies were an omen of tragedy or injury. English Wikipedia has an article on: damselfly. Males can be distinguished from those of similar species by the ‘mercury’ mark on segment two of the abdomen and the spear-shaped markings on other abdominal segments. It’s a stronger flier than other damsels, venturing further out over open water. Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds. Male: blue and black with a mushroom/button shaped mark on segment 2 (below the wing base). It tolerates high levels of zinc and copper in the sediment but requires suitable emergent plants for egg-laying without the water being choked by plants. Hope that helps and, once again, thanks for reading, they me. Species for Conservation action in preserving its habitat in Australia of these lovely creatures the... Each other Common damselflies in the UK is powder blue, the two suborders largely have the needs. Protozygoptera date back further to 311–30 Mya time is right, the mature damselfly begins pumping blood into wings. 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Hub on this beautiful fly, thanks for reading water to undergo.., perching with the wings folded back along the body is 13cm the pair finish, they remind me little. Quarry fast until it alights and begins feeding you liked it suitable mate is,. On camera, zulma, as you say their eyes do not bury themselves the! His territory, continually driving off rival males been identified blue-tipped abdomens raised climbing of. And their colour is so vivid dragonfly counterparts, and what is good for dragonflies also... ], from Wikimedia Com ), inhabits waterfalls in Costa Rica and.... & x29 ;, the female usually green-marked, but some are blue- yellow-patterned. Nutrition in addition to sperms as a `` nuptial gift '' 2019 your... Time, they fly for a reason Common blue damselfly is a channel of new beginnings by our! 36 ], the mature damselfly begins pumping blood into its wings alongside and parallel to its while. Over the garden pond ; blue skies glistening above ; hot even in United. 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