Damsel Fly Collection

Southern Damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale) adult male, feeding, Reserve Naturelle Coussouls de Crau, Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence, France, June

Scarce Emerald Damselfly (Lestes dryas) adult male, clinging to reed leaf, Hadleigh Country Park, Essex, England, July

Water Spider (Argyroneta aquatica) adult, with abdominal air bubble, feeding on Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) nymph, Thursley Common National Nature Reserve, Surrey, England

White Featherleg Damselfly (Platycnemis latipes) adult female, resting on leaf, Reserve Naturelle Coussouls de Crau, Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence, France, June

Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) adult female, resting on heather, Thursley Common National Nature Reserve, Surrey, England, June

Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) nymph, clinging to pondweed underwater, Thursley Common National Nature Reserve, Surrey, England

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) adult female, with missing leg, resting on leaf, River Whiteadder, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland, july

Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) immature male, resting on Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) leaf, Priory Water Nature Reserve, Leicestershire, England, May

USA, Montana, Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. Blue damselfly on plant in morning light. Credit as: Nancy Rotenberg / Jaynes Gallery / DanitaDelimont

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile, female with dew, Willacy County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Ramburs Forktail, Ischnura ramburii, male, Willacy County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) adult male, resting on twig, Staverton Lakes, Suffolk, England, august

Garden Orb Spider (Araneus diadematus) adult, with Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) adult male and female prey caught in web, Staverton Lakes, Suffolk, England, august

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isosceles) adult male, resting on reed, being attacked by Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) adult male, in flight, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB Reserve, River Yare, The Broads

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) adult male, feeding on chironomid midge, having first detached antennae, Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Kent, England, august

View of main lake, site of early colonisation by Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis), Staverton Lakes, Suffolk, England, august

Common Stretch Spider (Tetragnatha extensa) adult, with Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) adult male, prey caught in web, Priory Water Nature Reserve, Leicestershire, England, june

Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) adult pair, male holding female with abdomen prior to mating, Leicestershire, England, july

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) adult female, resting on leaf, West Sussex, England, april

Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) adult male, feeding on remains of tachinid fly prey, Priory Water Nature Reserve, Leicestershire, England, june

Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) nymph, clinging to pondweed, Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex, England, april (photographed in specialist photography tank and subsequently returned to wild)

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) adult male, resting on leaf, West Sussex, England, april

Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) nymph, on submerged leaf in moorland pond, Derbyshire, England, july

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) adult male, resting on leaf, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, may

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) and Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) two adults, resting on leaf, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, may

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) adult, emerging from exuvia, Leicestershire, England, april

Southern Emerald Damselfly (Lestes barbarus) adult pair, mating, Bulgaria, september

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) adult male, resting on knapweed, Leicestershire, England, august

Female banded demoiselle damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) on a bramble leaf (Rubus sp.). Damselflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis

Common blue damselfly on a sundew leaf
Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) trapped on the leaf of an English sundew (Drosera anglica). Also known as the common bluet

Damselfly nymph skin. Light micrograph of the head and thorax of a shed skin from a damselfly nymph (Coenagrion sp.). This is the ventral (underside)

Male banded damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) sitting on a leaf. This species of damselfly is named after the dark band that is found on the wings of the males

Damselfly nymph (Coenagrion sp.). Head and thorax of a damselfly at the nymph stage. The thorax contains three pairs of legs and a pair of undeveloped wings

Blue-tailed damselfly
Blue-tailed damselflies (Ischnura elegans) mating on a plant stem. During mating the male damselfly grasps the females head to pull her into the wheel position in order to copulate

Swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) with a dragonfly or damselfly in its beak. When this bird catches an insect

Small red-eyed damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) on a leaf floating on a pond

Man-made wildlife pond, artwork. This pond is double-lined and fed from a water butt (right). The log pile (right) encourages wildlife species

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile, male with dew, Willacy County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Damselfly, Argia spp

Blue-tailed damselfly, Ischnura elegans, perched on Yellow Iris leaf, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK, Europe
Andrew Davies / SpecialistStock

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In the enchanting world of damselflies, a Scarce Emerald Damselfly showcases its vibrant colors as it clings gracefully to a reed leaf in Hadleigh Country Park, Essex, England. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in Washington State, USA, a bluet damselfly proves its elusive nature. Known for their difficulty to spot and identify accurately, these bluets captivate with their delicate beauty. In Reserve Naturelle Coussouls de Crau, Bouches-du-Rhone, an elegant Southern Damselfly takes flight while indulging in a delicious meal. Its mesmerizing dance through the air is truly captivating. In another corner of nature's playground at Priory Water Nature Reserve lies a Blue-tailed Damselfly nymph clinging effortlessly to pondweed underwater before emerging into adulthood after its final moult. Love is in the air as Large Red Damselflies engage in an intimate mating ritual known as the wheel position. Witnessed amidst lush greenery in Suffolk and Oxfordshire during June and July respectively, these passionate pairs create moments of pure beauty. Fresh from transformation emerges a Red-eyed Damselfly with wings yet to expand fully. This delicate creature symbolizes new beginnings and promises hidden within nature's intricate design. Speaking of hidden wonders below water's surface resides an Argyroneta aquatica or Water Spider feasting on an unsuspecting Emerald Damselfly - showcasing both predator and prey dynamics that exist even among such ethereal creatures. Nature never ceases to amaze us; White Featherleg Damselflies find solace resting upon leaves while Beautiful Demoiselles feed on moth prey along River Whiteadder in Berwickshire. And finally, we encounter an Emerald Damselfly perched delicately on heather at Thursley Common National Nature Reserve - reminding us that even amidst vast landscapes there are tiny marvels waiting to be discovered.