Shropshire Birder
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Shropshire
Sample menu:
Beautiful Demoiselle (Caloptryx virgo)
Flowing water with a sand or gravel bottom is the main breeding requirement for this species. The main flight period is from May to July. After dispersal, they may turn up almost anywhere. The name is spot on, both sexes are truly beautiful. Males have completely dark brown wings with iridescent blue veins, the wings of the females are dark brown, lacking the blue. Both sexes have a metallic green body, deeper blue green in the male.
A male showing the metallic blue green body and iridescent blue wings....
Caught at take off....
Immature males have 'browner' wings but the abdomen is still metallic blue-green ....
Female showing the uniform brown tinged wing colouration ....
Another female, the abdomen is metallic green with a bronze tip.....
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