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| The pond at Piltdown |
We ventured north of the district yesterday in search of the
White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis
pennipes). These elegant, feather-legged little damsels like to bask on abundant
floating vegetation and the pond at Piltdown, which has caught my attention
while driving past, looked a promising site.
My reason for hunting ‘featherlegs’ is to contribute to a
survey that’s been organised by the British Dragonfly Society: the White-legged
Damselfly Investigation. The
point is to learn more about this species and add to our limited understanding of
it. There are increasing concerns that this dainty little insect is in decline
in Britain. More information about the survey can be found here.
The very first damsel I focused my binoculars on was a
White-legged Damelfly, a male on an iris leaf manoeuvring its abdomen in the
fashion of an ovipositing female. On closer inspection it was stuck to some
spider silk. Once freed it stood on my finger for a few moments before gently
alighting half a metre to another iris, where we both lingered for a little
while.
The pond didn’t disappoint; it was alive with seven
damselfly species, basking on what seemed every blade and leaf of vegetation.
Black-tailed Skimmers patrolled the banksides while teeming Swifts screeched
above them. Two hours later I had seen eight damselfly and dragonfly
species, along with a few other species of interest.
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| Rutpela maculata long-horn beetle |
Species seen:
Odonata (eight species)
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx
splendens) 2
White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) 2
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Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma
nymphula) 2
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Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura
elegans) 29
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Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma
cyathigerum) 5
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Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion
puella) 120
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Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma
najas) 5
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Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum
cancellatum) 12
Lepidoptera (eight species)
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Nut Leaf Blister Moth (Phyllonorycter
coryli) - mines on hazel leaves
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Large Skipper (Ochlodes
sylvanus) 3
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Large White (Pieris
brassicae) 1
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Small White (Pieris
rapae) 4
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Green-veined White (Pieris
napi) 2
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Ringlet (Aphantopus
hyperantus) 1
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Meadow Brown (Maniola
jurtina) 1
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Comma (Polygonia
c-album) 1
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Coleoptera (one species)
Yellow and black Longhorn Beetle (Rutpela maculata) 2
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