Dragonflies and Damselflies

[Maximilian]

Nice shots to begin the year!

Thank you very much, Alan.

I sometimes walk unsteadily and I am not young. Mind you, at least I can blame the vineyards.

But yesterday you were here, weren't you?
But please don't show me your unsteady way to fly

By the way: There are really lovely vineyards in Lower Franconia to hike through. Especially near Volkach and Marktbreit.
And the ways to hike through are well paved. So you only walk through them unsteadily if you like Franconian wine like I do

 

[Maximilian]

Today was not only “Labour Day” in Germany, but also a big "Hatching Day" in Franconia.
I saw at least twenty freshly hatched scarce chasers and also a bunch of exuviae.
And @AlanF, this time it certainly has nothing to do with vineyards or old age

All photos R50+100-400+1.4xExt., all uncropped, some as close as MFD.

Freshly hatched, exuvia below, wings not yet unfurled



Detail on the exuvia



Detail on the head, wings now unfurled, MFD



Full insect



Full insect (minus wingtip ) as close as possible, but not yet at MFD

 

[Click]

Very nice series, Maximilian. I especially like the 4th picture.

 

[Maximilian]

Very nice series, Maximilian. I especially like the 4th picture.

Thanks, Click.
I especially like the 1st photo.
Because I haven't seen the hatching itself before as this happens quite early.
But sometimes I have arrived at that moment, when the wings are spread.
And I once have seen a darter, that had the wings glued together.
So it never got airborne.
So I know that this very moment can be quite delicate.
And I was really happy when the wings could separate.

 

[Maximilian]

First DIF in 2025: a downy emerald.
I like the red highlights on the wing in the first photo.
R6m2+100-500+1.4xExt@700mm, f/11, 1/1600, ISO3200

 

[Maximilian]

Fours spotted chaser.
R6m2+100-500+1.4xExt@700mm

 

[Nemorino]

First DIF of the year and with the RF200-800
@1/4000s, f/9, iso1250/3200

 

[Maximilian]

First DIF of the year and with the RF200-800

Well done, Nemorino. Looks like a scarce chaser (Ger: Spitzenfleck).

 

[Maximilian]

Azure and large red damselflies.
The last photo is a freshly hatched damselfly. Difficult to ID, because the chitinous exoskeleton is still pale.
Looking at the faint pattern on the abdomen, this is another azure damselfly. Please correct me, if you think different.
R6m2+100-500+1.4xExt@700mm

 

[AlanF]

Azure and large red damselflies.
The last photo is a freshly hatched damselfly. Difficult to ID, because the chitinous exoskeleton is still pale.
Looking at the faint pattern on the abdomen, this is another azure damselfly. Please correct me, if you think different.
R6m2+100-500+1.4xExt@700mm

View attachment 223712
View attachment 223710View attachment 223711View attachment 223709

You are seeing them quite early. Things are slower here . Nice shots!

 

[Maximilian]

You are seeing them quite early. Things are slower here . Nice shots!

Thanks, Alan.
I would have to look when they appeared last year.
I had expected them a few days later.
But we had a very warm week, temps above 20°C and yesterday even 30°C in Baden-Württemberg.
So it seems that made everything speed up.
And - tbh - this year I was eagerly waiting and searching for them

Now it's getting colder again and I have a lot of work to do...

 

[Maximilian]

A few more from may 1st and freshly hatched scarce chasers.
I get more and more used to my new travel combo.
All photos R50+100-400+1.4xExt.

 

[Click]

Very nice pictures, Maximilian. Keep posting.

 

[Maximilian]

Very nice pictures, Maximilian. Keep posting.

Thanks, Click!
For sure, I will. But looking at my diary and the weather forecast, it's going to take a while

 

[koenkooi]

The damselflies have emerged around here!

R5II+RF100-500

https://flic.kr/p/2r2dqwB

 

[Click]

Portrait orientation works well. Nice composition.

 

[Nemorino]

Same dragonfly, different lenses
all original width
starting with the Laowa 15mm macro

Laowa RF58mm macro f/11

and RF100L 2.8 macro @ f/32

 

[Maximilian]

Same dragonfly, different lenses
all original width
starting with the Laowa 15mm macro

Laowa RF58mm macro f/11

and RF100L 2.8 macro @ f/32

Thanks for that very interesting comparison, Nemorino.
The side view with the Laowa RF58mm macro is my personal fav. mostly because of the pose and the tip-to-toe sharp body.

 

[AlanF]

A female Red Eyed immature Male Azure damselfly and a female Willow Emerald damselfly taken by my wife with the R7 and RF 100-400mm. She beats mine from the RF 200-800mm on the R5ii.

 

[Maximilian]

A female Red Eyed damselfly and a female Willow Emerald damselfly taken by my wife with the R7 and RF 100-400mm. She beats mine from the RF 200-800mm on the R5ii.

Really beautiful shots, Alan. Compliments to your wife. Esp. the fist one with the blurred bg is wonderful.

But if I may say so, I believe that both IDs are not correct. But of course, I may be mistaken.

The willow emerald damselfly (chalcolestes viridis) is known to be flying from August to October, sometimes starting in July.
Even if we take climate change into account, this is much too early. And though its wings look like it is freshly hatched - not fully transparent -, its wings should spread slightly.

And when I look at the pattern of the abdomen of both, esp. the first abdomen segment, my guess would be that both are the same species.
The first one is a little bit older and has turned already blue, while the second one is freshly hatched and has to mature a bit.
With the mark on the first abdomen segment and the mostly black rest of the segments, I suppose both are female azure damselfly (coenagrion puella), esp. as they are known to also have a green female form.
The female red-eyed damselflies (erythromma najas) have an almost fully black first abdomen segment.
These two have a first abdomen segment with a waisted colour pattern. That'll be common to azure d.

I hope someone can correct me or substantiate my opinion.