The Colour of an Emerald.

The classic colour of an emerald gemstone is green but they can range from yellow-green to blue-green.The same can be said of our Emerald Damselflies.More so since the recent addition of the Southern Emerald Damselfly Lestes barbarus to the Isle of Wight.Now that mature adults are seen around their breeding pools at Yarmouth it is noticeable that the eyes and antehumeral stripes on the thorax have turned an 'apple' green, while still retaining their main overall colour of metallic green.In addition the abdomen  shows a hint of bronze along the upper side.

Today with a temperature of over 30C it was a hot afternoon at Bouldnor ponds.I was joined in a count of Lestes barbarus by two other enthusiasts who had made the trip over from the mainland.Together we managed to find four adult Southern Emeralds in close proximity to the breeding pools.