DAMSELFLIES AND DEMOISELLES
PART 2
I have witnessed Blue Tailed Damselflies at Millstream
Fork more often than other species probably because
they prefer gardens and ponds. I then used Blue Tailed Damselflies as my introductory
marker to help me identify other flying insects. When I continuously made comparisons
and contrasts with this one creature I knew very well, other damselflies later become
easier to distinguish.
Whilst the Blue Tailed Damselflies are more common
than other types, the Large Red is the second most
common species which visit the garden. However,
some scarcer sights include the Azure and the
Common Blue Dameslflies. It is worth noting that
these species all prefer clear streams, such as the
millstream, as well as the river from which it flows.
Even though some damselflies are ubiquitous
the Banded Demoiselle is the most commonly
seen species in this second group. They can be
distinguished by their 45mm blue body stems and
large dark blue spots on each of their four wings.
All of the British damselflies have one of nature’s
most unusual mating rituals. It begins when the
female uses her wings to signal to her selected
partner that she is ready for mating. The coupling
position seems awkward and excruciating. The male
locks the rear of his abdomen onto the back of her
neck, then she loops her tail forward and locks onto
the male’s chest which forms a heart shaped pattern.
Sometimes the male persists with this bond while
she lays her fertile eggs. He does this because he
wants to be sure that the female is not intercepted by
another male who could then replace his sperm with
a new mating. In this way he senses an instinctive
guarantee that the eggs she lays will produce his
progeny.
After the initial coupling, when the male firmly fixes
his body to his mates, the female usually descends
towards the bottom of the pond using a water plant
where she lays her eggs. She remains underwater
long enough by creating air bubbles around her
body which she uses to breathe whilst submerged.
She injects her fertilised eggs into the centre of
the plant’s stem, from which larvae will eventually
emerge as aquatic nymphs. (Sometime afterwards
these nymphs climb up lilies or grasses at the pond
margins to pupate, split their skins and become
winged beauties.)
However, laying eggs is a dangerous task for a
female damselfly because if she runs out of air
bubbles, or somehow cannot resurface in time, she
will drown. Other dangers include being eaten by
spiders and other pond predators.
Unfortunately, I have not seen any of these
underwater processes in the exact moment in
which they happened at Millstream Fork, even
though I know they have occurred here because
we have witnessed many damselflies mating over
the decades. Many often keep to the same water
where they hatched, which has been good news for
me; however, others will still fly away to find new or
unattended ponds.
Now I know more about these flying creatures, I can
understand why Damselflies and Demoiselles are
seen more often at Millstream Fork than the larger
bodied Dragonflies. Either way I know they are just
as spectacular as their bigger cousins.
Contact Andy on 01895 520184 | email [email protected]
www.ffes.org.uk
Andy Mydellton, author and journalist, leads the South Buckinghamshire registered charity, the Foundation for
Endangered Species. Being based in South Bucks, they are in a position to advise people in this area about wildlife.
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