Скачать или смотреть White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) - Barcombe, Sussex: June 2020

This is an uncommon and under recorded damselfly currently the subject of a campaign to correct this anomaly, in order to get a better understanding of its population in the UK

This is a delicate and attractive Damselfly with unique (for the UK) shaped legs.

The tibia (lower part) are broad and flattened giving a feather like appearance. Hence the alternative (and mostly American) name of Blue Featherleg.

It can sometimes be found among Banded Demoiselles (   • Male & Female Banded Demoiselle (Caloptery...  ) at it prefers the same environment. That is, exposed slow flowing streams, rivers & canals rivers with lots of emergent and floating vegetation.

In the UK the White-legged Damselfly is restricted to the southern half of England and Wales.

The specimen seen is this video is an immature female, in what is known as the 'lactea' stage of its development. It will mature into a greenish yellow, with brown eyes, while the male is a light, almost washed-out blue, when compared to other blue damselflies.

Also distinctive are the almost golden pterostigma which are the small coloured patches, one on each wing in this species.

These are essentially stabilisers, without which insects such as damselflies would struggle to fly because destabilising vibrations called 'flutter' would set in when they reach a certain speed.

Like the Demoiselles the males engage in a courtship display. The females perform a jerking flight to attract a male, and in response the male displays its fabulous front white legs in the hope of impressing her.

PK

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