DRAGONFLY: Banded Demoiselles have emerged at Brockholes Wetlands

May 11, 2011:
Banded Demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens) are now flying here. Several males showing their beautiful metallic-blue colouring were resting in the long grass adjacent to the Meadow Pool reed beds. At this date there was no sign of the females which have browner wings lacking the dark banding and a greener thorax and abdomen.




[Males above, female below]

DRAGONFLY: Banded Demoiselles, Brockholes Wetlands, Lancashire

June 2, 2010:
In the present hot sunny weather, Banded Demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens) are flying on certain parts of the Reserve and especially in those reed beds not too far from the river. Many of them, whether males or females, are in beautiful condition.


[Male]


[Male]


[Female]


[Female]

The males maintain fairly localised territories, although in some cases two will occur surprisingly together.


[Two males in a stand-off?]

They are usually quite active, especially when disturbed, but will soon return with fluttering flight to perch on a leaf or dead Phragmites seed-head.


[Female, showing the metallic green tinge]


[Another female with full colouration still developing]