Large Red Damselfly

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Large Red Damselfly
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata Suborder: Zygoptera Family: Coenagrionidae Genus: Pyrrhosoma Species: P. nymphula
Binomial name
Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Sulzer, 1776)

The Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula is a European damselfly. It is one of the first damselflies to emerge in the year.

Contents 1 Habitat 2 Identification 3 Behaviour 4 Gallery

[edit] Habitat

It inhabits ponds and dykes, and occasionally slow-moving rivers.

[edit] Identification

Females occur in many colour forms, but all have yellow bands around the abdominal segments. They can easily be confused with Small red damselflies.

[edit] Behaviour

One of the most common damselflies, the Large Red Damselfly is often the first damselfly to emerge, usually in April or May. They inhabit a variety of waters, and on a summer day the dash of red perfectly complements the blue of Azure and Common Blue Damselflies.

[edit] Gallery

Large Red Damselfly, on a pond in Dorset, courtesy of Zonda Grattus.

Pyrrhosoma nymphula in Belgium natural reserve Marie Mouchon, by Luc Viatour

Mating Large Red Damselflies, taken in Craig-cefn-parc in South Wales