Southern Emerald Damselfly

Observers of Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) have been experiencing some interesting events in southern England in recent years. A number of species have been moving northwards from the Mediterranean zone over recent decades and have now reached the shores of the English Channel.

 

With regard to Damselflies, two species made the leap across the channel around the turn of the 21st century. The Willow Emerald Damselfly (Lestes (Chalcolestes) viridis) and Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) are now well established as breeding species in south-east England. The Southern Emerald Damselfly (Lestes barbarus) has been turning up in south-east England almost annually in recent years and it is now likely that barbarus will be the next species to establish itself . The Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca) is another species that may not be far behind. 

 

On 4th August, an observer came across a male barbarus at a dewpond on the East Sussex downs. The next day, my friend Bob Eade went to the site and saw it. I didn't manage to get to the site until ten days later but managed to find and photograph a male. Bob and I are still undecided as to whether our photographs actually depict two different males. I think that images from different cameras and in different light conditions may have confused the issue not to mention a lack of familiarity with this species and how its markings might change as it ages.

 

 

Southern Emerald Damselfly (Lestes barbarus) (male)  

 

 

 

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) (males)

 

Damselfly Encounters

With little shelter from the hot sunshine beating down, I have not ventured onto Pevensey Levels in the last week or so but have sought the shade and coolness of some favourite riverbanks and Wealden ponds in search of damselflies. 

 

The White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) is a localised species in Sussex but often abundant in favoured habitats. Whilst walking along an East Sussex riverbank this week, I disturbed dozens of this attractive and distinctive species.

 

 

White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (male)

 

 

 

White-legged Damselfly (P.pennipes) (female)

 

 

White-legged Damselfly (P.pennipes) (pair in tandem)

 

 

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) (male)

 

This recent colonist from Europe is now a widespread species in south-east England.

 

 

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (E.viridulum) (mating)

 

 

 

 

During Autumn 2017, I found dozens of egg sacs of the Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) in a Wealden woodland clearing. I returned to the site last week to look for adult females on their webs. These striking spiders make a distinctive web with zig-zag 'sutures' within the structure.

 

 

Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) (female)

 

 

 

A couple of favourites from the moth-trap this week.

 

 

Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)

 

This open winged view shows the tufts on the trailing edge of the forewings that give the Prominent family their name.

 

 

Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)

 

Southern Hawker Emergence

During the last week of June, whilst we were checking the acid pools of Ashdown Forest, Bob and I came across a female Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) in the process of emerging from the nymph. The last photograph in the following sequence was of a different female cyanea found in another pool, with wings fully expanded.

 

 

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) (females emerging from nymph)

 

 

 

In May, I watched this male Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) hawking along a hedgerow on Pevensey Levels. It caught a bee and then settled on an ivy bush to devour its prey.

 

 

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (male devouring a bee)

 

 

The Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) is a species that has rapidly colonised south-east England from the continent in recent years. Its smaller size and the blue 'saddle' under segment 8 of the abdomen are diagnostic in separating this species from the very similar Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas). Both species can be found in similar habitats and the male in the following image was photographed at a Wealden pond during the second week of August.

 

 

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) (male)