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July 26, 2011:
Seeing something move deep in the marginal vegetation of a small pool at Foulshaw, a closer view revealed a Common Hawker emerging from its exuvia, the latter falling back into the water before there was the chance of a photograph. The insect then climbed slowly up a stem of Juncus, its wings folded at first but then gradually spread as it came out into full sunlight. Its thorax and abdomen were already developing a dull grey/brown coloration but its wings and pterostigma were completely colourless and translucent; the characteristic costa was, however, discernable. At first, due to its large size, it seemed that it might be an Emperor but the photos showed otherwise. After a few minutes perching in the sunlight it fluttered away into the nearby trees.
Four stages of emergence shown below (bottom upwards)
Also flying here were Black Darters, Four-spotted Chasers, an Emperor, and many Azure aand Emerald Damselflies.
[Black Darter, male]
[Four-spotted Chaser, male]
[Azure Damselfly, male]
[Emerald Damselflies, pair]
Nice photos of the Common Hawker emerging, Michael. BTW the singular of exuviae is exuvia.
ReplyDeleteI notice you haven't posted any reports of White-faced Darter (it's rather late now, but I thought on your previous visit you might have seen some).
I only saw one teneral on my sole visit this year (the only Saturday when the weather was tolerable, and I wasn't otherwise engaged) at Brown Stones Moss.