Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. Dragonflies and www.naturalengland.org.uk © Natural England 2007 damselflies in your garden ISBN 978-1-84754-015-7 Catalogue code NE21 Written by Caroline Daguet Designed by RR Donnelley Front cover photograph: A male southern hawker dragonfly. This species is the one most commonly seen in gardens. Steve Cham. www.naturalengland.org.uk Dragonflies and damselflies in your garden Dragonflies and damselflies are Modern dragonflies are tiny by amazing insects. They have a long comparison, but are still large and history and modern species are almost spectacular enough to capture the identical to ancestors that flew over attention of anyone walking along a prehistoric forests some 300 million river bank or enjoying a sunny years ago. Some of these ancient afternoon by the garden pond. dragonflies were giants, with This booklet will tell you about the wingspans of up to 70 cm. biology and life-cycles of dragonflies and damselflies, help you to identify some common species, and tell you how you can encourage these insects to visit your garden. Male common blue damselfly. Most damselflies hold their wings against their bodies when at rest. BDS Dragonflies and damselflies belong to Dragonflies the insect order known as Odonata, Dragonflies are usually larger than meaning ‘toothed jaws’. They are often damselflies. They are stronger fliers and referred to collectively as ‘dragonflies’, can often be found well away from but dragonflies and damselflies are two water. When at rest, they hold their distinct groups. wings open, rather like an aeroplane. Male blue-tailed damselfly. Tim Beynon. Damselflies The hindwings are usually shorter and wider than the forewings. They have Despite their name – and some legends Damselflies are small, delicate-looking large eyes – occupying most of the – dragonflies are quite incapable of insects with a weak flight. They often head – that are very close to one hurting humans. Neither do they stay close to water. When at rest, most another, often touching. deserve their nickname ‘horse stinger’. species hold their wings closed along Some people have seen grazing horses their body (an exception is the emerald apparently shying away from hawker damselfly which holds its wings half dragonflies and assumed the open). All four wings have the same Top: Male brown hawker dragonfly. BDS/I. Hulme dragonflies have stung them – in reality, size and shape. The eyes are always Bottom: Male migrant hawker dragonfly. the dragonflies are hunting the biting separated, never touching, and BDS/J. Stevens flies that are bothering the horses. positioned on either side of the head. Dragonflies or damselflies? 2 3 The four-spotted chaser dragonfly. Dragonflies keep their wings open when at rest. BDS/I. Hulme Identification Above: Female of the same species. BDS/J. Stevens Bottom: Male emerald damselfly. Unusually, this species holds its wings half open when at rest. Dragonflies and damselflies are Steve Cham creatures of the sun. In England, they may be seen on any warm day between April and October, but most commonly at the height of summer. The distinctive colours of the adults make it relatively easy to tell one species from another and they are quite riveting to watch. (One point of caution – the colours of dragonflies and damselflies change as Male (top) and female (above) banded demoiselles they mature, see ‘Colour changes’ page damselflies: note the dark patch on the male’s wings. Steve Cham (both photographs) 18.) Below: Male large red damselfly. Steve Cham The charts on the following pages list those species most likely to be seen in English gardens, though unusual weather patterns may occasionally bring in some unexpected exotic species. 4 5 Top: Female emerald damselfly. John Mason Left: Male red-eyed damselfly. Steve Cham Opposite page left: Male azure damselfly. BDS/J. Stevens. Opposite page right: Blue-tailed damselflies mating. BDS/I. Hulme 6 7 Left: Mature male broad-bodied chaser dragonfly with powdery blue colouration. BDS/J. Stevens Right: Female of the same species with yellow-brown colouration. BDS/I. Hulme. Above: Female ruddy darter dragonfly. David Goddard Right: Male ruddy darter dragonfly. Bill Furse The charts on the following pages list those species most likely to be seen in English gardens, though unusual weather patterns may occasionally bring in some unexpected exotic species. Bottom: Male emperor dragonfly. BDS/J. Stevens 8 9 Garden likelihood: 1 rare Colours, markings and key identification features 2 uncommon of flying adults (M: males. F: females). Wings are Size Flying 3 possible Damselflies transparent unless otherwise stated. (adult length) season UK distribution Preferred habitats 4 likely Banded demoiselle M: metallic blue-green body with distinctive large blue 41–45 mm Mid-May to Lowlands of England, Slow-flowing rivers and 2 (if garden is near a Calopteryx patch on wings. F: metallic green body, green tinge to early Sep. Wales and Ireland. canals. suitable river or splendens wings. canal.) Emerald damselfly Keeps wings half open when at rest. Both M and F 36–38 mm Late Jun to Throughout the British Ponds, ditches, canals, lake 2 (often depending Lestes sponsa have metallic green body. M: powdery blue colour at end Sep. Isles. margins and acid bogs, all on density of plants top and tip of abdomen. with plenty of emergent in and around a vegetation. garden pond.) Large red Mainly red, with black markings at the end of 35–36 mm Mid-Apr to Widespread Ponds, canals, ditches and 4 damselfly abdomen. late Aug/ throughout the British bogs. Lestes sponsa early Sep. Isles. Azure damselfly M: blue, with thin black segments, black u-shape on 33 mm Mid-May to Widespread in Small sheltered pond and lake 4 Coenagrion puella 2nd segment of abdomen. F: black and green, with late Aug/ England, Wales; margins. narrow green stripes on thorax. early Sep. lowlands of south & central Scotland. Common blue M: bright blue, with thin black segments, black oval or 32 mm Mid-May to Widespread Wide variety of habitats 3/4 (may avoid damselfly mushroom shape on 2nd segment of abdomen. F: late Sep. throughout the British including ponds, lakes, gravel smaller ponds.) Coenagrion puella black and either blue or dull green, with wide stripes Isles. pits, slow-flowing rivers and on thorax. canals. Blue-tailed M: black abdomen with blue ‘tail’ (8th segment). F: 31–32 mm May to Sep. Widespread Wide range of still and 4 (may be one of the damselfly black abdomen with blue or brown ‘tail’. throughout the British flowing waters. first species to Ischnura elegans Isles (except Scottish colonise new ponds). Highlands). Red-eyed M: red eyes, dark abdomen with blue tip. F: eyes 33–35 mm Mid-May to Southern England and Usually larger ponds with 2 (likelihood is damselfly brown-red and black abdomen with no blue ‘tail’. Aug. Welsh border. abundant floating-leaved increased if water Erythromma najas plants. lilies are present.) 10 11 Garden likelihood: 1 rare Colours, markings and key identification features 2 uncommon of flying adults (M: males. F: females). Wings are Size Flying 3 possible Dragonflies transparent unless otherwise stated. (adult length) season UK distribution Preferred habitats 4 likely Common hawker M: dark, with paired yellow & blue dots along 71–74 mm Early Jul to Western and Wide range of standing 1 Aeshna juncea abdomen. F: brown with paired yellow dots. early Oct. northern Britain. waters, from small moorland pools to lakes. Migrant hawker Small yellow triangle at top of abdomen. M: fairly dark 63–65 mm Late Jul to Southern Britain Ponds, lakes, gravel pits, 1/2 Aeshna mixta brown, with small, blue, paired dots along abdomen. F: (small hawker) Oct. (spreading canals and slow-flowing brown, with dull yellowy-green spots. northwards) rivers. Southern hawker M: blackish, marked bright green, with blue at tip of 70–73 mm Jul to Oct. Lowlands of Woodland and garden ponds, 3/4 (increased Lestes sponsa abdomen. F: chocolate brown with green/yellow England & Wales. lakes, canals. Lays eggs on old likelihood if shrubs/ markings. logs by the margins of ponds. hedge in garden) Brown hawker Large brown species with amber-brown wings. M: blue 73–74 mm Late Jun to Lowland Britain & Large garden and park ponds, 2/3 Aeshna grandis dots along side of abdomen. early Oct. Ireland. lakes, canals, gravel pits, slow-flowing rivers. Emperor M: green thorax and bright blue abdomen. F: all green. 76–78 mm Late May to Southern England & Well-vegetated ponds, lakes, 3 Anax imperator Both sexes have dark line running along top of early Sep. Wales (spreading ditches and canals. abdomen. northwards). vFour-spotted Medium-size brown species, with black-tipped √43–47 mm Late May to Widespread Wide range of acidic 3/4 chaser abdomen; dark spot on middle of front edge of each of mid Aug. around UK (except standing waters, also some Libellula the four wings; small dark patch at base of hindwings. N-E England). canals and slow-flowing quadrimaculata waters. Broad-bodied M: broad blue abdomen with yellow spots along sides. 44–46 mm May to end Southern England Ponds, small lakes and 3/4 chaser F: broad yellow to yellow-brown abdomen. Both sexes Jul. & Wales. ditches. Libellula depressa have dark patches at base of wings. Common darter M: orange-red abdomen. Young and F: yellowish to 37–41 mm Mid-Jun to Much of UK, except Wide range of habitats 4 Sympetrum light brown abdomen. late Oct. Scottish Highlands. including ponds, lakes, striolatum ditches and rivers. Ruddy darter M: blood-red abdomen with clear slim ‘waist’. F: dull 34 mm Late Jun to Southern Ireland & Well-vegetated ponds, lakes, 2 (more likely on Sympetrum yellow-brown, with thin black lines along sides of early Oct.