<< Previous Next >>

Variable Damselfly


Variable Damselfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Hans Hendriks (hansh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 277 W: 1 N: 741] (2762)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 20D, Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro
Exposure: f/8, 1/160 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Damselflys [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-11-09 11:29
Viewed: 2749
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It was sad for this Coenagrion pulchellum, struggling for life in a spiders web, but thatīs nature.

Widespread and common. Adult flight period is from May to the end of August. A common and widespread species, especially on cutover bogs where it is usually the most abundant damselfly species. Also found on lowland lakes and ponds. This species is much more general here than in Britain, where it is generally uncommon.

This species is similar to the Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella and the Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum with which it coexists. However the males of the Variable Damselfly are comparatively darker (due to more extensive black markings) and appear more slender.

KEY IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Extensive black markings on thorax and abdomen
The pronotum has a pronounced trilobate hind margin (see comparison of pronotums of blue damselflies)
The U-shaped black marking on the second abdominal segment is normally joined to the black ring at the posterior edge
In males segments 4-6 have less blue/more black than in Coenagrion puella and the blue dorsal thoracic stripes are always waisted and form an exclamation mark!
In the female there are two colour forms, blue and green. In the blue form there is a black patch on the second abdominal segment shaped like a "mercury" mark,in the green form it is more thistle-shaped. However some Azure females Coenagrion puella have a similar pattern.
Dis. Ac., CatherineD has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Hans,

Lovely shot of this dragonfly with great color and detail. The wing and body is very clear and you have a nice blurred background that doesn't draw your attention away from the dragonfly.
Good capture and TFS

Sion

hallo Hans
erg mooi deze compositie
super details en goed van scherpte
de kleuren komen goed uit tegen de rustige achtergrond
great shot
groetjes lou

Hallo Hans,

wat een prachtige opname van deze libel in het web.
Goed scherp met prachtige achtergrond.
Mooie kleuren.

Gert

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-11-09 11:57]

Hallo Hans,
Jammer dat er een beetje ruis in de achtergrond zit want verder een prachtige foto in mooie kleuren en prima scherpte. Ook een erg goede compositie.
Het beste,
Peter

Hello Hans,
The colors are very beautiful, specially the reflections on the wings and the spider web. Nice composition and background too. TFS,
Catherine

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF