Species: Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

Family: Narrow-winged Damselflies (COENAGRIONIDAE)

Category: Insects (Other)

Location: NE

A. Insects (Other)

More extensive information on insects can be found in a separate blog post.

B. Narrow-winged Damselflies (COENAGRIONIDAE)

Narrow-winged Damselflies can be found worldwide and are the most common family of damselflies. They prefer ponds and wetlands. This family has perhaps 1,300 different damselfly species.

C. Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

The Large Red Damselfly is our most common damselfly, appearing earlier in the year than most others in the Narrow-winged damselfly family. Its black legs and black wing spots (pterostigma) distinguish it from the Small Red Damselfly.

This insect is around 3.5 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of just under 5 centimetres. It's a regular visitor to gardens.

Images

Large Red Damselfly

The Large Red Damselfly is our most common damselfly, appearing earlier in the year than most others in the Narrow-winged damselfly family.

Large Red Damselfly

This insect is around 3.5 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of just under 5 centimetres. It's a regular visitor to gardens.

Large Red Damselfly

This male Large Red Damselfly (on a temporary, blue plastic pond divide) is being buzzed by a Helophilus hoverfly. Look carefully at its mouth, and you may see it with the remains of an insect's wing in its mouth.