| Both Dragonflies and Damselflies spend the best part of their lives under water in ponds (except the Golden-ringed which lives in streams). Larvae are ferocious predators, using their pincers to hook into anything passing they can consume.
These two creatures are about the same size and seen on separate days in the same habitat, people can be forgiven for believing they are one and the same. I am occasionally approached by Fathers and asked to confirm the top creature shown is a Dragonfly larva. I then have the delicate task of refuting the suggestion. A mistake we all make at some time in our history, including me of course.
The top insect is the larva of the dreaded Dytiscus marginalis, also known to some as the Great Diving Beetle which is a hefty beast. There is also the Great Silver Diving Beetle which is a scrict veggie though the larva is not. I have never seen the latter which has never been reported to me as being in this general region.
The larva shown below is one of the Damselflies, actual length around 20mm. I once saw one of these leave the water by running up a a piece of pond vegetation at a surprising speed. Presumably to get a place of safety in a hurry.
Once they matamorphose into tenerals (immature adults), they always fly upwards as soon as possible into trees, where they can fully mature ready to take their place in society. The pecking order is Large Red Damselflies first followed by the Blue Damselflies. The Emerald Damselfly emerges mid-season and lasts until the end. |
