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Large Red Damselfly

©Margaret Holland

Large red damselfly

If you have a garden pond, look out for the Large red damselfly resting at the water's edge. As the name suggests, males are bright red with a black thorax, but females may be almost entirely black.

Scientific name

Pyrrhosoma nymphula

When to see

April to August

Species information

Statistics

Length: 3.6cm
Common.

About

The Large red damselfly is a medium-sized damselfly that lives around the edges of ponds, lakes, ditches and canals, and can also be found away from breeding sites in grassland and woodland. The earliest damselfly to emerge in the UK, it is on the wing from the end of April through to August. It is a regular visitor to gardens.

How to identify

Male Large red damselflies are bright red with a black thorax and black bands towards the end of the body. The amount of red and black on the females' abdomens varies, with some forms appearing almost entirely black. The similar Small red damselfly is a much rarer species that is only found on heathlands in the south of England and West Wales. It is smaller, more delicate and has less red than its larger relative.

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

Most adult Large red damselflies emerge from the pond at the same time: over a short period of just three weeks in the spring.