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Ponds in the UK
big_kid

Birth of a damselfly

19 years ago

I bought a pretty good pair of binoculars a while back and really like watching the creatures and insects around the pond. Yesterday I watched a damselfly larva crawl out of the pond from some hornwort, walk across a waterlily and climb onto a watermint stalk and climb up the stem. It then took an hour and a quarter (yes, folks, I had to keep watching!) to break free from its skin. I had to change position three times as it worked its way around the stalk, but it was worth every second. It was amazing to watch the way the body gradually lengthened, then the end seemed to split into four, and the wings eventually parted. I didn't get to see it fly because it stayed still for a long time afterwards and I wasn't sure how long it would stay there.

Today I saw a red damselfly, two white ones which flitter about, a bit like demoiselles. I also saw a light green one which was promptly gobbled in flight by my tame robin who thought he was being ever so clever. Little rotter, the guy I watched yesterday was a green colour and I have a nasty feeling he became robin breakfast. Oh dear!

Big Kid

Comments (2)

  • 19 years ago

    It is incredible to watch them emerge--and not many better ways of spending a Sunday! I came across a broad-bodied chaser one morning, but had to go to work so couldn't watch it complete its metamorphosis--but it was still drying itself several hours later.

    Finding exuviae (papery exoskeletons) is exciting. They are so perfect, which just the little 'shoelaces' (or as I just discovered, tracheal linings) to show where it got out. I have had some for over two years in very good condition.

    Quoting from a dragonfly site (after it insists you make yourself very comfortable if you come across an emergence)

    "You can monitor the production of your pond by collecting the empty larval skins, or exuviae, on a regular basis. Examine the emergent vegetation and other suitable substrates like sticks and rocks. If you find an eluvia, check that it is empty. Whitish strands can usually be seen sticking out of the hole through which the insect got out. These strands are the remains of the old tracheal linings. Check that the insect has actually left the vegetation - it may just have moved up to catch more sunlight. Collect these empty skins by gently sliding them up the vegetation, or prying them off the substrate. Be careful, they are very light and easily carried away by any breeze. If the wind has been blowing you may find some of the empty skins in the water, but they can remain attached to the substrate for some time. Sorting these by appearance will give you an idea how many species are using your pond. (Remember that there are other kinds of insects that have an aquatic larval stage.) Record the numbers by date to give yourself an idea of the cycle of emergence. Probably you will not see some exuviae that are hidden or inaccessible, but this will give you some indication about what is there. " More on it on http://uci.net/~pondhawk/odonata/ips_odonata.html

    There was a site I found that wants people to send in exuviae for identification, but I can't seem to find it now. But the British dragonfly site is always good too,

    http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/frameset.htm?codeprac&home

    As for your Robin, you might have to distract it with mealworms during the next emergence!!

    Chip

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks for all the info, Chip. It's been windy here but I hope the exuvia is still stuck to the plant stalk because I want to have a closer look at it and I shall try to preserve it, if I can!

    I think the chances of seeing a dragonfly/damselfly emerge are very small (unless you spend a load of time just waiting in the hope of catching one leaving the water!) We're really lucky to have seen this happen.
    Big Kid

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