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Sunday, 5 of September of 2010

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Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa



Length

35-39mm; Wingspan: Male 42mm; Female 45mm; Hindwing 19-22mm


Male

Metallic green in colour. This species has a slow maturation period of two to four weeks, over this period a blue pruinescence appears on the thorax between wings and segments 1,2, 9 and 10. Eyes blue. Confusion species is Scarce Emerald Damselfly which is extinct in Yorkshire. Both sexes rest with wings half open.

Male Emerald Damselfly at Skipwith Common on 17/06/2007. - © Paul Ashton.



Female

Metallic green, with pale beige sides to the thorax. Distinctly thicker abdomen than male.

Female Emerald Damselfly at Skipwith Common on 19/08/2007. - © Paul Ashton.



Gallery

Emerald Damselfly Gallery


Behaviour

Weak flyer usually remaining close to emergent vegetation, rarely going far over water. Copulation usually takes place close to breeding site and last from 30 minutes to over an hour. Females usually arrive to oviposit in tandem with the male. Oviposits in to stems of emergent grasses, rushes, sedges and horsetails, usually above surface, but can submerge, including the male. Fairly sedentary and can be absent from seemingly good sites.


Habitat

Still or slow moving water such as ponds, bogs, ditches, canals and lake edges with dense emergent vegetation. Tolerates brackish and acidic water. Sensitive to excessive clearance of emergent vegetation.


Flight Period

Nationally: Late May to early October.
Yorkshire: Late May, though more usually mid June to late September. Most abundant during late July.

emedam


Status

Found at many sites through VC61-64. Scarce or under recorded in VC65.

emedam


Recorded at the Following Featured Locations

View the latest sightings for this species.