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The heatwave has been ideal for bringing out all sorts of wildlife in the UK, including some fascinating and strangely beautiful insects. One such creature is the damselfly, a member of the Odonata family of insects and similar in some ways to its better-known relative, the dragonfly. The damselfly is a member of the Zygoptera suborder, which describes a large group of predatory, flying insects. There are 17 known species of damselfly in the UK. Easily recognised by their long, slender body and net-veined wings; they can be found mainly near freshwater habitats. A little more delicate than its relative, the dragonfly; damselflies appear to fly weakly and are generally smaller and thinner. What is the damselfly? Ancestors of damselflies existed around 325 million years ago. Fossils of very large dragonfly-type creatures have been found in Upper Carboniferous rocks. These ancient insects had a wingspan of around 30 inches (750 mm) and their wings were designed differently from their modern counterparts. Today's damselflies are much smaller. In the UK, the species' wingspan is generally only around 0.71 inches (18 mm). Larger species exist abroad, such as the giant Megaloprepus Caerulatus in tropical South and Central America, which has a wingspan of 7.5 inches (19 cm). Is the damselfly a protected species? Worldwide, there are around 2,600 damselfly species, although they have suffered a population decline in recent years. A loss of their natural habitat is the main reason, according to a report in the Journal of Insect Science. The impact of urban development has been negative on the damselfly population. A reduction in their natural vegetation and a decline in water quality are both major factors. Drainage, due to modern forestry and agricultural practices, is also detrimental to their wellbeing. Yet invertebrates such as damselflies are vital for maintaining the planet's natural ecosystem, especially since they live in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. While some species are faring relatively well, the rare Southern Damselfly is endangered; it is protected in the UK under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means it is illegal to kill one if you find it in your garden. The Southern Damselfly can be hard to identify, as its markings are quite subtle. The male is blue and black, with a black mark where the wings join the body. It resembles a black spot with a "U" shape on top. The female is black, with green and blue markings. Conservation efforts have been launched UK-wide to save the Southern Damselfly. A partnership between the British Dragonfly Society, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Natural Resources Wales, local landowners and farmers has preserved its habitat at Pensarn Corner, a Special Area of Conservation in Preseli, Wales. The endangered species was under threat of extinction in this part of the UK, which used to be one of its main strongholds in Europe. The project to maintain its habitat is crucial for the species to survive for future generations. The Northern Damselfly is also on the red list, with the British Dragonfly Society monitoring sightings. It is only found within a small area of Scotland, mainly around Cairngorms National Park, North Perthshire and Deeside. Its natural habitat has declined in recent years, partly because colonies of other damselfly species have been taking over. Currently, the BDS doesn't know how many Northern Damselflies have survived and is urging members of the public and volunteers to identify and record sightings. The male is blue and black, with a black symbol resembling a "spade" from a pack of cards at the top of its abdomen. The two segments near the bottom of its abdomen are almost completely blue, apart from a couple of tiny black spots. The female is mainly green, but her black markings can be seen from above. What's the life-cycle of a damselfly? Mating in some species begins with an elaborate courtship routine, with the male hovering in front of the female as he displays his brightly coloured abdomen, wings or legs. Some damselflies mate while in flight and will be seen flying in tandem. They also eat while in flight, preying mainly on smaller insects. The male can attach himself to the female as she lays her eggs, using claspers at the tip of his abdomen to hold onto her. The female lays her eggs in plant tissue. Some species lay their eggs under water, remaining submerged for an hour or more to do so. Her mate keeps other males away while she lays the eggs and helps her out of the water after she surfaces. The eggs are laid in a jelly-like substance. The damselfly larvae have three leaf-like gills at the tip of their abdomen, so they can breathe under water. After two to five weeks, the eggs will hatch when they have evolved into tiny tadpole-like creatures with six legs, wing-sheaths and an extendable hinged jaw which shoots out in a second to catch prey including crustaceans, insect larvae, worms, leeches, snails, tadpoles and small fish. The damselfly larvae themselves fall victim to predators such as fish, other dragonfly larvae and waterfowl. They spend most of their life in this stage in the water. This can be anything between two months for the smaller UK species, to as long as three years for the bigger ones found in the tropics. After finally emerging from the larval stage as damselflies, they take to the air almost immediately to feed and mate. Once they become an adult damselfly, they have a short life expectancy of between one to eight weeks, depending on the species. With a voracious appetite, they will often be seen preying on other flying insects on sunny days. There are also predators who feed on the adult damselflies including birds, spiders and larger species of dragonflies. What’s the difference between a damselfly and a dragonfly? The main difference can be spotted when they are resting, as the dragonfly spreads its wings like an aeroplane, while the damselfly closes its wings. If you get close to damselflies or dragonflies, look at the position of their eyes. The dragonfly's eyes are very large and close together. The damselfly has smaller eyes with a gap between them. The dragonfly tends to have a chunkier, short body, while the damsel is the opposite and has a long, narrow body. Although they can be difficult to observe, the shape of the wings is also a giveaway. Tapering where they attach to the body; the damselfly's wings are a uniform shape and size. The dragonfly's front wings are a different shape from its rear wings, which are also broader and don't taper as much where they meet the body. Where can damselflies be found in the UK? It's a great time to go out exploring during the summer months and make the most of the warm weather to experience Britain's wonderful wildlife. Damselflies can be found all over the UK, although some species are more prevalent than others. For example, the blue-tailed damselfly, which grows to 31 mm long, can be found in almost every water body throughout Britain. It is also scattered around Ireland. It is black with a pale blue thorax. Perhaps Britain's most widespread species is the large red damselfly, growing to 36 mm long. It is red with black spots on its wings and can be found all over the UK in large numbers, living around water bodies, meadowland dykes, ponds and peat bogs.We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.