Dragonflies 2013

Ireland, has a rather low biodiversity when it comes to dragonfly species with only 6 hawkers, 2 emeralds, 1 chaser, 2 skimmers and 4 darters (excluding a couple of random rarities). This is quite unusual amongst insect groups, and indeed the odonate family is very small compared to other invertebrate groups worldwide (odonates 6,000 species, beetles 350-400,000). Of the 15 regular dragonflies, I have so far managed to see 5 this year, which might seem a little low, but the majority of the hawkers and darters aren’t around yet or are only starting to emerge.

Emperor hawker/dragonfly (Anax imperator)
The emperor is the largest and most impressive of the Irish dragonflies dwarfing the much smaller damselflies. I was lucky enough to get a shot with both an adult emperor and several azure damselflies landing on its back in one shot. I’m uncertain if the azures saw a potential mate in their giant cousin or if they where daring enough to try and chase it off. Either way it made for a great photo op. The site in Blarney where I watch these dragonflies yearly seems to have less this year. Not sure if this because like many insects they are late this year or if it’s because their favourite patch of wild grassland has been cut short.





Hairy hawker/dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)
On a walk where I was hoping to photograph meadow brown butterflies I randomly spotted a dragonfly landing nearby. I assumed this to be a very early common hawker but soon discovered that it was a hairy! It is a minor miracle that I got as good a shot as I did from 3 meter distance with a 55mm lens without tripod. After a bit of research I discovered that this is in fact the first Cork city sighting on record with only one nearby record from Midleton dated to 1969.



Downy emerald (Cordulia aenea)
This is one I very much wanted to see this year. With only a few suitable sites around the country I took a trip out with Floss to Glengarrif to try and find them. We did indeed find one individual but never managed to photograph it at rest. The shot below is unfortunately my only one.



Four spot chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)
One of Ireland’s most common and also most approachable dragonflies. Four spots have quite a stunning pattern to their wings with the four spots being unique amongst the Irish species.






Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
I have glimpsed several darters over the past month but have only been able to confirm one as common darter a few days ago because it had yellow lines on its legs, a diagnostic feature. As this species is not yet emerged in most of its sites I will wait until later in the season to post pictures.

The list so far 
Hairy hawker (seen) 
Common hawker
Brown hawker
Migrant hawker
Southern hawker
Emperor hawker (seen) 
Downy emerald (seen) 
Northern emerald
Four spot chaser (seen) 
Keeled skimmer
Black tailed skimmer
Common darter (seen) 
Red veined darter
Ruddy darter
Black darter

Dragonflies, counting up 2012

I am counting up the odonate species from the spring to autumn season of 2012 today. I must say I feel a little cheated as one of the best photo shoots I had recently was trapped on my camera when unfortunately it got stolen. That took care of four spotted chaser and emperor dragonfly which I had with great care and patience managed to approach. Grumbling aside, I did rather better with damselflies then dragonflies.

1. Banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) 
From my trip to Carlow I found these beauties clinging to the reeds everywhere by the river. Stunning and a delight are terms I would gladly use for this species. I also found some right in the city centre but couldn’t approach them.

2. Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) 
Considerably harder to approach due to its habit of flying to a nearby tree top when interrupted. Perseverance got me some alright shots though I feel with more time I could have done better.

3. Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) 
Another new one for me this year. The large red damselfly does exactly what it sais on the tin and is rather easy to identify given that it’s the only red species in Ireland.

4. Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) 
One of Ireland’s several blue species; the azure can be distinguished most easily by the markings at the base of its tail. This is the blue I encountered most often this year.

5. Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) 
Much like the above species but again with different markings, the common blue has a different less azure shade (obviously I suppose). My main sight for them is Blarney castle gardens.

6. Blue tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans) 
Another blue damselfly; this one is not however in the same family and can quite clearly be told apart by its mostly black abdomen which has a bright blue end. Sometimes in flight this delicate creature looks like its carrying a tiny blue light on its tail.

7. Emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
I really wanted to see one of these and after considerable late season searching one is what I got, in the shade with overcast skies, because of this the colours of this species don’t really show in this shot.

8. Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) 
Large and impressive species that has moved into Irish parts only recently but is now relatively easy to find. The below shot was meant as a preview of the pictures to come on facebook but now stand as my only emperor pic this year.

9. Migrant hawker (Aeshna mixta) 
Like its name suggests this hawker is migratory and like the emperor it is pretty new in Ireland. It seems to be more approachable then its cousins the common and brown hawkers.

10. Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) 
My most photographed dragonfly, the common darter appears late in the season but is quite plentiful in places.

Other species I spotted but did not manage to photograph where ruddy darter, black darter, red veined darter, common hawker, brown hawker (likely) & four spotted chaser. Until summer 2013 then for these guys!

Revenge of the Odontates

Went back to Blarney lake the last day to get some more pictures of the dragon and damselflies that live there before winter sets in and they disappear, surprisingly the species I found last time seem to have declined or disappeared entirely and have been replaced by a large population of ruddy darters. All in all we saw about 50 of these very picturesque dragonflies (below).

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Very approachable species and quite easy to capture on camera as well, perhaps the only downfall is their tendency to sit flush with the ground making side profile shots difficult. They are quite territorial and jealously defend their patch of about 2 meters from passersby. I know very little about insect behaviour but my guess would be that the dragonfly with the best territory gets the girl. There was plenty of egg laying couples present as well bobbing up and down together over the water’s surface. Very interesting!

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The drastically smaller population of damselflies that remains consists of the same species I saw here before, namely blue tailed, common blue and azure. There may have been variables too; frankly telling them apart gives me a migraine! (Some of the ones below may be wrong). 

Blue tailed damselfly

Azure damselfly

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I thought this was quite interesting, a pair of blue tailed damselflies mating and getting attacked by an azure damselfly. Weird behaviour! Perhaps this again is a territorial dispute but the damsels generally don’t seem that fussed over territories, maybe these species are in competition for egg laying spots. Heck, maybe he crash landed!

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Finally we spotted several emperor dragonflies, the largest dragonflies I have ever seen in Ireland and also a bit nightmarish in appearance. It’s as big as my fist and flies around in quite an aggressive manner. The fact that it buzzes while doing this and comes quite close at times doesn’t help either. Instinctive caution aside it is actually harmless to humans (obviously). The females seemed busy looking for the best lilies to lay their eggs under. Unlike the darters and damsels the pairs aren’t attached whilst laying eggs. Not sure if this is a trait of their subfamily or if they are simply too heavy to do so. Interesting to compare the three species and their different methods of egg laying though.

If ever there was a competition for perfect predator then the massive emperor would be a prime candidate.

Female laying an egg

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Oh yeah, almost forgot about the butterflies. Quite like the red admiral below, delighted to get a non cropped picture of one of these beautiful butterflies before they too disappear.

Common blue

Red admiral buttefly, one of several on a thistle bush