Damselflies spotted around the reserve

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Damselflies are taking to the skies of Foxglove! 

 
They can be spotted all over the reserve, but are most commonly found in sunny spots and around the pond areas. The most common species you will spot around our reserve right now are the Large Red Damselfly, the Common Blue Damselfly, and the Azure Damselfly. They are easily spotted as flashes of bright, electric blues and deep, rich reds flitting past.

They are remarkably curious creatures with a love for bright surfaces. If you are walking the trails with an open field guide or notepad, don't be surprised if one decides to land right on your page, or your arm, to say hello!


Although they may look similar, damselflies are not the same as dragonflies. An easy way to tell them apart is that damselflies rest with their wings tucked in, whereas dragonflies rest with their wings spread out.

 
Right now, our resident damselflies are busy emerging, mating, and laying the groundwork for the next generation. Here is what to look out for on your next visit!
Damselflies spotted around the reserve blog post image
Image: An Azure Damselfly resting.
 

Copulation

The male uses special appendages at the tip of his abdomen to clasp the female behind her head. The female then loops her abdomen forward to connect with the male's secondary genitalia. Together, they form a perfect, unmistakable heart shape (as seen in the image below!). They can maintain this link while resting on vegetation or even while flying clumsily through the air.
 

Ovipositing

After mating, it is time to lay eggs, which is known as ovipositing. To ensure no other males disrupt the process, many damselfly species remain attached in tandem.

The male stays clamped behind the female's head, holding himself completely upright like a tiny flagpole to keep watch. Meanwhile, the female uses a sharp organ on her abdomen to slit open floating plant tissue, submerged pondweed, or rotting wood to deposit her eggs safely inside. In a few weeks, these eggs will hatch into underwater nymphs!

Damselflies spotted around the reserve blog post image

Image: Two damselfly in copulation.

Emerging

Damselflies spend the vast majority of their lives, typically 1 to 3 years, living underwater in their larval stage (nymphs). Only a very small fraction of their lifespan is spent on land and in the air as fully grown, winged adults, which typically live for just a few days to a few weeks. When it is finally ready to transform into an adult, the nymph crawls out of the water and clamps its legs onto whatever is nearby (reeds, stems, or very frequently, the wooden posts of our reserve's boardwalks!)

The nymph's skin splits down the back, and the adult damselfly slowly extricates itself, pumps fluid into its wings, and flies away. Left behind is the exuvia, a perfect shell of the creature's former body. 


How many damselflies will you spot during your next visit?

📸 Photo credits to our wonderful volunteer, Alison.