Small Red Damselfly

[Peter]

Hi 

Been a while since I posted

Got a new species on one of the two ponds I check daily

Small Red Damselfly

Can't find a lot of references to it in Lancashire - has anyone any info please.

The pond has changed in character over the last couple of years and is now much much less open with bog bean and great reed mace dominating leaving much less open water.

Thanks in advance

Peter

[Colin Adams]

They were seen for the first time last season - in both the south and east of the county.

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[Peter Clare]

Thank you Colin and for passing onto Steve. Going to spend some time at the pond tomorrow. Only saw the one today

Thanks again

Petrr

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[Allen Holmes]

Small Red or Small Red eyed?

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[Colin Adams]

I read it as small red eyed - wrongly, but it must be a typo.

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[Peter Clare]

Small red.

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[Colin Adams]

Then they've never been seen anywhere near Lancashire. Photos will be needed.

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[Peter Clare]

Hi Colin

I'm not an expert and don't have a camera just one on my phone. Will look again tomorrow. If I can confirm the sighting will post on this group. Anyone is welcome to come and take socially distanced photos. The only possible alternative would be a very very small large red damselfly. Seen loads of them - but this one was smaller than the blues/azures/blue tails that were all around it and I was only 3 to 4ft from it. Hopefully it/they will be there tomorrow. 😊

Peter

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[Colin Adams]

You have to check the leg colour - small reds have red legs - large reds have black legs. Size isn't a reliable guide at any distance.

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[Peter Clare]

Thanks Colin

Will check

 In my experience size is usually a reliable characteristic in most adult insects

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[S WHITE]

Although we have had a couple of probable records (hawkers at the right time of year) in the past  - at Martin Mere in 2014 and Mere Sands Wood some time in the 1990s - we now have a confirmed record.

A male was first seen at Lunt Meadows wetland on 17 May and this or another again on the 24th and 25th - when it was photographed by Phil Boardman (attached.). Unfortunately no further sightings.

Also on the 25th another was reported hunting over a meadow in Littledale in the Lune Valley and seen again on the 26th - not 100% confirmed but likely.

So, definitely a new species for VC59 and possibly also for VC60.

Steve.

[Colin Adams]

But the size range of the two species overlap.

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[Peter Clare]

They do but this one was way smaller It's size more like the size quoted on the Dorset dragonflies site  It was much smaller than the blues/Azure's/bluetails perched alongside it It was very dainty

The most likely explanation is of course that I have misidentified it 🙂. It won't be the first time I've misidentified an insect.

Hopefully it will be around tomorrow. Definitely not a confirmed sighting. 

Will check the legs very carefully.

Thanks for your help 👍

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[Peter Clare]

Morning all

It was me 

Just back from the pond 2 or 3 typical large red males there today along with the one I saw yesterday. All have black legs.

Managed to get very good views of the one I saw yesterday. It is malformed - the back end of its abdomen is shrivelled up beneath it and the "good bit" of its abdomen is needle thin. Amazed that it can flutter around.

Anyway apologies for the chaos, thanks for your help - will always check the legs first in future 😊

Peter

[Simon Joseph]

Seems unlikely that it would be small red damselfly the nearest site is several hundred miles away. More likely to be large red damselfly. Good quality pictures needed please.

Simon