Why do I like dragonflies? Perhaps because they are colourful, streamlined, often beautiful, sometimes savage, frequently elegant, occasionally dainty and always photogenic. Or maybe its because they appeal to the collector in me, I like to tick off new species and enjoy the anticipation of exploring new sites in the hope of seeing something different. The search takes one to wild places, lakes and streams, fast flowing rivers, ponds and ditches, in fact anywhere there is water one should find dragons and damsels in summer. And so it was that wildlife wizard Mick Richardson introduced me to some choice locations in search of ever more species and encounters with these winged warriors.
Small Spreadwing - lestes virens The day ended with an impressive six new species to add to my life list.
The Small Spreadwing is possibly the most elegant of these. With its very long slender metalic abdomen, blue eyes balanced by a matching-accessory blue band around the "Tail" and a lovely coppery thorax that glints like new coins in the sunlight, it is a truly stunning insect.
It is otherwise known as the Small Emerald Damselfly which can be misleading as mature males such as this one become more coppery coloured than green. The pterostigma here has pale edges characteristic of a Migrant Spreadwing but it is also known to be true in L. Virens in parts of Iberia, as in this case.
The Small Spreadwing is possibly the most elegant of these. With its very long slender metalic abdomen, blue eyes balanced by a matching-accessory blue band around the "Tail" and a lovely coppery thorax that glints like new coins in the sunlight, it is a truly stunning insect.
It is otherwise known as the Small Emerald Damselfly which can be misleading as mature males such as this one become more coppery coloured than green. The pterostigma here has pale edges characteristic of a Migrant Spreadwing but it is also known to be true in L. Virens in parts of Iberia, as in this case.
Small Spreadwing - lestes virens
Winter Damsel - sympecma fusca Another new one for me was the Winter Damsel. A very small and often overlooked insect described as dainty but drab in the field guide. Personally I like those curved aerodynamic lines and the layered agate coloured eyes which are not drab at all. The overall colour scheme reminds me of a stylish 1950s American sedan car.
Winter Damsel - sympecma fusca
Southern Skimmer - orthetrum brunneum The Southern Skimmer is a dragonfly that I may have seen before but this is the first time I was able to photograph it. It is quite plain overall but the blue of the male is almost fluorescent. It was much brighter and therefore easy to pick out from the male Epaulet Skimmers which were also flying here.
Southern Skimmer - orthetrum brunneum
 Blue-eyed Damsel (Goblet Marked) - erythromma lindenii |  Dainty Damsel male - coenagrion scitulum |
The Blue-eyed Damsel above left is sometimes called Goblet-Marked for obvious reasons. The Dainty Damsel on the right is also appropriately named as it hovers and flits lightly around waterside plants in a very dainty fashion. They were both new species for my list.
Common Blue - enallagma cyathigerum The Common Blue is the most widespread Damsel in Europe. It is the start point for identifying bluets. The male has a familiar black mushroom on S2 and females have "Torpedoes" on S3-7. Both have a single stripe on the thorax side.
Southern Skimmers in tandem - orthetrum brunneum Here is a pair of Southern Skimmers in tandem. The blue male is similar to the Epaulet Skimmer but does not have the narrow "Waist" nor the characteristic epaulet mark on each side of the thorax.
Long Skimmer - orthetrum trinacria The Long Skimmer is a very handsome dragonfly. Adult males are deep blue all over. The long narrow abdomen has a conspicuously bulbous base which helps with identification.
Long Skimmer - orthetrum trinacria
Western Willow Spreadwing - lestes viridis The Western Willow Spreadwing, or Willow Emerald as it is otherwise known, is the largest of the Spreadwings and the colour is a vivid metalic green, it reminds me of British Racing Green of Formula 1 fame forty years ago.
It is the only odonate that oviposits (lays eggs) in live wood, and is often found in trees and bushes overhanging water. The action of ovipositing leaves tracks, or scars in the wood, which is usually thin branches with soft bark.
It is an impressive looking insect.
It is the only odonate that oviposits (lays eggs) in live wood, and is often found in trees and bushes overhanging water. The action of ovipositing leaves tracks, or scars in the wood, which is usually thin branches with soft bark.
It is an impressive looking insect.
Western Willow Spreadwing - lestes viridis
The Small Redeye was easily recognized as the similar Large Redeye does not occur in Spain. In fact the Field Guide to Dragonflies of Britain & Europe does not include this region of Spain for the Small Redeye, but I have recorded this species at several locations here. They like to sit on pondweed or other floating vegetation in still water. I was quite fortunate today to catch this male perched on a reed stem. They were abundant on the lake.
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Iberian Bluetail - ischnura graellsii The Iberian Bluetail (Graellsii) is very common and abundant here but strangely the Field Guide does not show its range extending along the coast to this region. It could also be Common Bluetail (Elegans) but this also is not shown to extend this far South or West. They are extremely similar species and are known to hybridise. I post this particular insect for two reasons, one is because it is clearly infested with mites around the wing base, the other being the clean yellow and black striped thorax, which indicates it is a teneral male.
Speaking of yellow and black, here below is a nice shot of what I believe must be a classic "type B" mature female Iberian Bluetail. The bright yellow/green colour, particularly on the thorax with the wide antehumeral stripe, is diagnostic. There are several variations of Bluetails which can be very confusing.
Speaking of yellow and black, here below is a nice shot of what I believe must be a classic "type B" mature female Iberian Bluetail. The bright yellow/green colour, particularly on the thorax with the wide antehumeral stripe, is diagnostic. There are several variations of Bluetails which can be very confusing.
Type B Iberian Bluetail female - ischnura graellsii
 Red-veined darter female The shot above is a female Red-veined Darter, and to the right is a Lesser Emperor which we heard catch and carry off a male Red-veined darter. I managed to get a distant shot of it perched to devour its prey. |  Lesser Emperor eating a Red-veined Darter |
Exuvia A successful day chasing dragonflies, many thanks to Mick Richardson. 20 species recorded including,-
Blue-eye/Goblet Marked Damsel
Common Blue Damsel
Dainty Damsel
Small Red-eyed Damsel
Southern Damsel/Mercury Bluet
Winter Damsel
Common Darter
Red-veined Darter
Scarlet Darter
Blue Emperor
Lesser Emperor
Black Percher
Black-tailed Skimmer
Epaulet Skimmer
Long Skimmer
Southern Skimmer
Small Spreadwing
Western Willow Spreadwing
Blue-eye/Goblet Marked Damsel
Common Blue Damsel
Dainty Damsel
Small Red-eyed Damsel
Southern Damsel/Mercury Bluet
Winter Damsel
Common Darter
Red-veined Darter
Scarlet Darter
Blue Emperor
Lesser Emperor
Black Percher
Black-tailed Skimmer
Epaulet Skimmer
Long Skimmer
Southern Skimmer
Small Spreadwing
Western Willow Spreadwing
