Our Island Resident Species-Damselflies(3).

 The Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa, is arguably the finest of our local damselflies. The adult male has glorious colouring and bright blue eyes and both the female and male display a rich golden brown together with an emerald green when immature. Population numbers seem to be of a low density here although individuals can be encountered at a variety of habitats including ponds with lush vegetation and almost dried up shallow areas in late summer. 

Another Emerald Damselfly new to the Isle of Wight list is Lestes barbarus  the Southern Emerald Damselfly. This species has been breeding in a forest location for the last five years, however numbers seem to be declining recently. The first individuals appear from their two dry shallow scrape-like ponds in late May and when conditions are right they are recorded until almost mid October. Evidence of mating pairs is not usually seen until August when the scrapes are completely dry. 

    

Southern Emerald Numbers Rise as August Arrives.

Today Southern Emerald Damselfly numbers increased dramatically at their Isle of Wight breeding site.Dramatically that is for this colony,as since its discovery in 2015 sightings have only once reached double figures at one time.

At least six males were recorded this afternoon at the larger of the two scrapes.This area now looks bone dry although there are plenty of green rush and reed growing from the scrape.The same can be said of the smaller scrape, although it seems to be deeper than its partner with a hint of moisture and a covering of dead vegetation between the rush and reed.As yet no sightings have come from the smaller scrape this season.

I expect and hope that females will soon appear as August progresses with the mating period now imminent.

Southern Emerald Damselflies Back at Yarmouth.

The last sighting of Lestes barbarus was on the 21st of June at Yarmouth.Expert advice was that any further sightings would be when individuals had matured and returned to their breeding locations.This was well founded as yesterday I recorded up to three mature males on station at the larger of the two scrapes.Both scrapes are now dry so hopefully mating pairs will soon be seen throughout August.

An Isle of Wight First of the Season

The British Dragonfly Society produces a colourful twice yearly magazine for its members which I can highly recommend for those that are interested in dragonflies.

In the latest edition there is a list of the 'First Dates for 2014' for species sightings reported to their website for the UK and I am glad to say  the Isle of Wight notched up the first Ruddy Darter seen in Britain this year.

The date of the sighting was in early June at Brading Marsh.

This attractive darter is mainly seen here in July and August and can be locally common throughout southern and eastern England.The male has a waisted abdomen which turns blood red in colour as it matures.Females and immatures are yellow-ochre marked with thin black lines.

The immature male seen at the marsh is pictured below followed by  photographs of a mature male and a mating pair.

Time for the Small Red-eyes.

As mentioned in my entry about the Small Red-eyed Damselflies of February this year,the months of July and particularly August are the time to see this very dainty damselfly.

It is a relatively recent addition to the odonata of the Isle of Wight and can be found at several locations now.At  a private garden pond in the village of Shalfleet I was fortunate enough to see several males and ovipositing pairs.The males tend to spend their time on lily pads and the females are most easily seen when in tandem with a male, laying eggs into pond weed.

Small Red-eyes

A very recent and swift coloniser of the Isle of Wight has been the Small Red-eyed Damselfly.Only in the last ten years has this damselfly been discovered breeding on the Island and now can be found at several locations

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The peak months  for this species are July and August where they frequent ponds,lakes and ditches covered in floating plants.Females spend most of their time on these pond plants well away from the margins although the males can sometimes be seen nearer to the bank.

Some Greek Dragonflies

Just to get away from Isle of Wight for a moment and mention our holiday to our favourite destination,the Greek Islands.

As a family we love to visit them when we can,and our trip to the island of Thassos in the northern Aegean last August was not a disappointment.I like to wander around close to our accomodation to see the local wildlife although I must say that dragonfly sightings have been few and far between in Greece,

However,on this occasion we were in the right spot.As can be seen the bay is backed by mountains and several streams wind their way across the marshy and rich lowland to the sea.Despite a good deal of developement over the last twenty years some areas of reed and scrub remain which are home to a good selection odonata.

Behind the  beach in the dunes are hordes of Red-veined Darters and in and around the reeds I came across the beautiful Scarlet Darter and the Keeled Skimmer.The latter is the subspecies anceps. which is found particularly in the southern Balkans.In addition a transitional phase Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly popped-up.