FURTHER DRAGONFLY ARTICLES:   BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE | DRAGONFLIES | DOWNY EMERALD  GOLDEN-RINGED | MIGRANT HAWKER

THE BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE IN CUMBRIA

This gorgeous damselfly is found in the Lake District mainly in the area between Coniston and Windermere. It is a species that likes clean flowing water and does not tolerate pollution well - consequently its other strongholds are the south west of England, Wales and West Scotland. Emergence begins in late May but mature adults don't generally appear at the streamside until mid-June, spending the intervening time feeding and developing elsewhere. They are on the wing throughout June and July and often into August. This large damselfly actually looks more like a butterfly when seen in flight, and a slightly tipsy butterfly at that (an old folk name for the damselfly is "water butterfly" probably because of this species). The blue males seem to loll about as though they can't quite decide which way to go! The green-brown females are less frequently seen. Images of this colourful species were often painted in the margins of illustrated manuscripts in the Middle Ages, suggesting they were perhaps more common at that time. Males defend the best bits of vegetation overlooking the best sites where females might lay eggs (see photo). At rest, with wings folded along the body, they might seem to be just a dark damselfly, but when they open their wings the metallic sheen becomes more obvious. It is when they fly in the sunshine that the eye sees a stunning blue shimmer:- The metallic colour on the wings in this species covers virtually all the wing (sometimes the tips are more brownish). The similar Banded Demoiselle (which occurs at one or two sites on the Solway in the north of the county) has a distinct band on the outer half of each wing. The full metallic wings of the Beautiful Demoiselle show well in this splendid image taken on the River Brathay and kindly submitted by Nigel Pearson. One of the best sites I know for Beautiful Demoiselle occurs at the southern outflow from Yew Tree Tarn, near Coniston. Here there is a sunny glade and even a bench to sit on while you take in the sight. Hundreds of people must pass here every week in summer but most look the other way over the tarn and few probably notice the delightful behaviour of this species behind them (or the nesting Titmice, Pied Flycatchers etc.)!

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