The large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) is a species of damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae.[2] It is native to the western Palearctic.
Pyrrhosoma nymphula can reach a body length of 33–36 millimetres (1.3–1.4 in).[4] These large and robust damselflies show black legs and wing spots in both sexes.[4]
Mature males have red eyes and a black thorax with red shoulder stripes in mature specimen, but yellow stripes in immature. In fact ante-humeral stripes change to red with age. Abdomen is red with black small rings and bronze-black bands towards the apex (segments 7-9).[5] Wings are hyaline, with a blackish pterostigma. Mature females occur in three colour forms (typical, fulvipes and melanotum), from mostly black to mostly red, but all have yellow bands around the abdominal segments.[4] Some intermediate forms also exist.
The form typica has more black on its abdominal segments than the form fulvipes, particularly on segment 6. Immatures have lighter eyes and have yellow stripes on the thorax, not red. In the form melanotum females show the upper surface of the abdomen almost entirely black.[5][6]
These damselflies can easily be confused with small red damselflies, but the latter has orange legs, while the large red damselfly has black legs. In Greece and Albania a closely related species occurs, the Greek red damsel (Pyrrhosoma elisabethae). They look very much the same, the females only having a slightly different pronotum with deep folds in the hind margin. The males differ in their lower appendages, which are longer than the upper ones, while the black hook on the lower appendages is half as long as in the large red damselfly. The appendages of the large red damselfly can be seen in the gallery below.
Biology and behaviouredit
The great red damselfly is often the first damselfly to emerge, usually in April or May. Adults can be found until September, according to locality.[4]
Immature adults mature in about two weeks. Mating occurs in vegetation.[6] The female during the laying of eggs is accompanied by the male,[6] she immerses into the water only the abdomen. Eggs hatch in two-three weeks. Development of larvae takes two years. Larvae feed on aquatic insect larvae, protozoa, rotifers or small crustaceans.[6]
^ abKalkman, V.J. (2014). "Pyrrhosoma nymphula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T165500A19160630. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T165500A19160630.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
Media related to Pyrrhosoma nymphula at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Pyrrhosoma nymphula at Wikispecies
January 01, 1970
large, damselfly, large, damselfly, pyrrhosoma, nymphula, species, damselflies, belonging, family, coenagrionidae, native, western, palearctic, male, sandford, oxfordshire, female, form, fulvipescumnor, hill, oxford, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn,. The large red damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula is a species of damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae 2 It is native to the western Palearctic Large red damselfly Male Dry Sandford Pit Oxfordshire Female form fulvipesCumnor Hill Oxford Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Odonata Suborder Zygoptera Family Coenagrionidae Genus Pyrrhosoma Species P nymphula Binomial name Pyrrhosoma nymphula Sulzer 1776 Synonyms List Libellula miniusHarris 1782Libellula nymphulaSulzer 1776Moroagrion danielliNeedham amp Gyger 1939Pyrrhosoma interposita Varga 1968Pyrrhosoma nymphula interpositumVarga 1968 Contents 1 Distribution 2 Habitat 3 Description 4 Biology and behaviour 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksDistribution editThis species is a mainly European damselfly with some populations in Northern Africa and Western Asia 1 3 Habitat editThese damselflies inhabit small ponds lakes and dikes and occasionally slow moving rivers They tend to avoid fast flowing water 4 Description edit nbsp Immature female form typica Cumnor Hill Oxford Pyrrhosoma nymphula can reach a body length of 33 36 millimetres 1 3 1 4 in 4 These large and robust damselflies show black legs and wing spots in both sexes 4 Mature males have red eyes and a black thorax with red shoulder stripes in mature specimen but yellow stripes in immature In fact ante humeral stripes change to red with age Abdomen is red with black small rings and bronze black bands towards the apex segments 7 9 5 Wings are hyaline with a blackish pterostigma Mature females occur in three colour forms typical fulvipes and melanotum from mostly black to mostly red but all have yellow bands around the abdominal segments 4 Some intermediate forms also exist The form typica has more black on its abdominal segments than the form fulvipes particularly on segment 6 Immatures have lighter eyes and have yellow stripes on the thorax not red In the form melanotum females show the upper surface of the abdomen almost entirely black 5 6 These damselflies can easily be confused with small red damselflies but the latter has orange legs while the large red damselfly has black legs In Greece and Albania a closely related species occurs the Greek red damsel Pyrrhosoma elisabethae They look very much the same the females only having a slightly different pronotum with deep folds in the hind margin The males differ in their lower appendages which are longer than the upper ones while the black hook on the lower appendages is half as long as in the large red damselfly The appendages of the large red damselfly can be seen in the gallery below Biology and behaviour editThe great red damselfly is often the first damselfly to emerge usually in April or May Adults can be found until September according to locality 4 Immature adults mature in about two weeks Mating occurs in vegetation 6 The female during the laying of eggs is accompanied by the male 6 she immerses into the water only the abdomen Eggs hatch in two three weeks Development of larvae takes two years Larvae feed on aquatic insect larvae protozoa rotifers or small crustaceans 6 Gallery edit nbsp Mating source source source source source source source source Video of oviposition nbsp Male dorsal view nbsp Female side view nbsp Male eating insectDry Sandford Pit Oxfordshire nbsp Male Thorax close up nbsp Eyes close up nbsp Male appendagesReferences edit a b Kalkman V J 2014 Pyrrhosoma nymphula IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014 e T165500A19160630 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 1 RLTS T165500A19160630 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 BioLib Fauna europaea a b c d e BDS British Dragonfly Society a b Odonata org a b c d HabitasExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Pyrrhosoma nymphula at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Pyrrhosoma nymphula at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Large red damselfly amp oldid 1164834400, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
