Exuviae

16 years ago

Just had a quick look at the British Dragonfly Society's site and saw that someone is asking people to send in exuviae for them to catalogue and use for people's reference.

I've just taken five out of my pond which are all identical. That makes my collection six now, including the damselfly I actually watched hatching. On one plant I saw an exuvia and a green dragonfly that must have just hatched out. Trouble is that they take so long to actually fly, that I did a load of gardening, then had another look, but he'd disappeared!!

I'm curious to know which dragonfly the five exuviae were, but I want to keep them all!! Maybe I should send a couple and ask if they will identify them for me, but I might not get a reply....

Big Kid

Comments (5)

dampflippers
16 years ago
Hi,
I haven't seen any at all yet. In fact I've only seen one damselfly this year, and it was on the paving.
I'll keep an eye out though.
Ps I bey you didn't know they were called exuviae until you went to the website!

Here is a link that might be useful: Dragonfly society
alison_froglady
16 years ago
I didn't know the name either, but did recognize what it was as I started to read the thread. I don't have any in my pond and haven't seen any anywhere yet this year.

Here is a link that might be useful: alisons pond and garden
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Absolutely NOTHING is wrong! That is the exuvia and the head capsule from the caterpillar. It just didn't fall to the ground, as MissSherry says. :) If you look at it carefully, you will actually be able to see the head capsule. This is one of my Kindergartners' FAVE things to look for. In fact, after the butterfly does eclose, I give the kids the empty chrysalis (another exuvia!) and if there is a head capsule attached nearby, the kids are ecstatic.
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OH, believe you me, they can get through just about ANYTHING! I am absolutely FAMOUS for my escapees...in fact, I just noticed an exuvia of one while cleaning the underside of the counter the other day. Yep, there was a nice little Monarch exuvia just a-hanging there. Must've been one of those Monarchs I found fluttering in the window one day... As far as the larvae go, they can get through just about anything when they first hatch. I use these bug cups where the holes in the lids are basically pinholes and I mean PIN holes! I find the 1st instars OUTSIDE the cups and how they crawled through that itty-bitty hole is beyond my comprehension. So, screening? Ha! Think little rodent...how they squeeze through tight places and you've got yourself a caterpillar. Good luck! And, keep EvErYtHinG tightly closed up, my dear! :P Take it from the infamous tdogmom who has had caterpillars pupate on toilets, in the middle of mirrors, under counter edges, on the bathroom wall, ...and have had caterpillars crawling up toilet bowls, out of trashcans, across bookshelves, and even had Praying Mantis nymphs 'explode' in the bathroom (oh, only about 200+ hatch one weekend, much to my husband's surprise and dismay...)!
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chippewacat
16 years ago
How exciting! I remember they were looking for samples last year and said they would tell you. So I guess if there was a stamped postcard or email address they would let you know. I did find one site last year that showed the exuviae alongside the dragonfly---but failed to save and have not found it since. Its in cyberspace somewhere.

Does anyone know what species of dragonfly they have? We usually have broadtailed chasers and emperors. Saw on TV the other day something about dragonflies able to fly 40 mph!

Loads of damselflies so far, but no dragonflies yet. There is something else though that is smaller than a damselfly and not brightly coloured so it is hard to see when its still. But when it flys it moves its wings differently so it looks like a wonky helicopter. Anyone know what these are?

Seem to be finding loads of young toads in the undergrowth about 1 and 2 years old. Gives me a good excuse for continuing to be a very untidy gardener. Have yet to see baby newts, but I keep hoping it is because they are safe inside the water starwort.

happy ponding and will keep an eye out for exuviae!
big_kid
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi All,

I didn't know the exact spelling, but someone must have mentioned it before in a previous thread, because I recognised it immediately.

Chip, Check out the family of Calopterygidae which includes demoiselles. I've also seen a few smallish pale, almost white (damselflies) which flitter about. Your description of wonky helicopters is much more descriptive!! I have a feeling we might have newly hatched, possibly female agrions, possibly 'calopteryx splendens.' I once saw a load of beautiful demoiselle agrions on a river in south London and they were all flitting about madly. Absolutely beautiful.

I haven't seen any dragonflies yet this year, except for the one next to the exuvia. Due to the size, I'm sure it was a dragonfly and I reckon it would be green. Pity I didn't see it fly away.

My robin is still hanging around with nothing to do. He should be busy helping feed his babies by now. This is the first year that I haven't had a pair mating in my garden. He teamed up with another robin late last year, but I guess something must have happened to her and he's been mateless all this year. Maybe he was a swan in a previous life and has decided he doesn't want to find another female. Ah! All I know is that he's got too much time on his hands and I don't reckon the young damselflies/dragonflies stand much chance while he's around. The idea of keeping him fed with mealworms is a good one, but I can't be there all the time and he's a right gannet!
Big Kid
chippewacat
16 years ago
Thanks for that! Noticed on the site they are wanting people to report on broad-tailed chasers (got those!), so can't wait for them to start hatching so can send pictures in. And this year will send some exuviae in--had a lot of fun last year taking them into work and freaking people out...they are fascinating!

Your robin friend sounds delightful--does that make you Batman though? Holy Anisoptera!

Chip

Exuviae

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