Shropshire Birder
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Shropshire
Sample menu:
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Extremely common in Shropshire and likely to be found in a wide variety of habitats near to still or slow flowing water. First impression is of a 'black bodied' Damselfly apart from abdominal segment 8 which is a clear and striking blue. The thorax of males is normally blue (green forms are known), black on top with narrow blue antehumeral stripes. Five color forms of the female are known - I'll be working on these.....
A typical male with metallic black abdomen and narrow, blue antehumeral stripes ....
A side view of the male showing the blue coloured S8 and the diamond shaped 'two tone' wing spots.
An immature male with metallic black abdomen, the thorax and antehumeral stripes are green ....
The female (rufescens) form which represents the early stage of development after emergence........
seen from the side........
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