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)