Dragonflies | macrowereld.com

Dragonflies & Damsels

Dragonflies are an insect order, of which 71 different species

were observed in the Netherlands.

Dragonflies are an insect order, of which 71 different species were observed in the Netherlands.

Within this order a distinction is made between real dragonflies (45 species) and damsels (26 species).
The real dragonflies are generally larger (29-84 mm) than damsels (25-49 mm).
Damsels are built lighter, have a round thin abdomen and small eyes that are far apart.

Real dragonflies have a larger chest piece, a thicker abdomen and larger eyes that touch each other.

The real dragonflies are divided over 5 families, among which

the Spiketails, Hawkers and Skimmers.

Among the damselflies there are 4 famlies, for instance the broadwings and spreadwings.

The different species within a family are sometimes difficult to distinguish from each other and can only be recognized on the basis of minimal differences in color and drawing.

Below a number of photo's of species that I have observed so far:

Western Clubtail

Western Clubtail

(Gomphus pulchellus)

Club-tailed Dragonfly ♂

Club-tailed Dragonfly ♂

(Gomphus vulgatissimus)

Club-tailed Dragonfly ♀

Club-tailed Dragonfly ♀

(Gomphus vulgatissimus)

Blue Hawker

(Aeshna cyanea)

Brown Hawker ♀

(Aeshna grandis)

Green-eyed Hawker

Green-eyed Hawker

(Aeshna isoceles)

Migrant Hawker

(Aeshna mixta)

Blue Emperor ♀

(Anax imperator)

Downy Emerald

(Cordulia aenea)

Northern White-faced Darter ♂

Northern White-faced Darter ♂

(Leucorrhinia rubicunda)

Broad-bodied Chaser ♀

Broad-bodied Chaser ♀

(Libellula depressa)

Scarce Chaser ♂

Scarce Chaser ♂

(Libellula fulva)

Scarce Chaser

(Libellula fulva)

Four-spotted Skimmer

Four-spotted Skimmer

(Libellula quadrimaculata)

Black-tailed Skimmer ♂

Black-tailed Skimmer ♂

(Orthetrum cancellatum)

Black-tailed Skimmer ♀

Black-tailed Skimmer ♀

(Orthetrum cancellatum)

Black Darter ♂

(Sympetrum danae)

Black Darter ♀

(Sympetrum danae)

Marshland Darter ♂

Marshland Darter ♂

(Sympetrum depressiusculum)

Marshland Darter ♀

Marshland Darter ♀

(Sympetrum depressiusculum)

Banded Darter ♂

Banded Darter ♂

(Sympetrum pedemontanum)

Banded Darter ♀

Banded Darter ♀

(Sympetrum pedemontanum)

Ruddy Darter ♂

(Sympetrum sanguineum)

Ruddy Darter ♀

(Sympetrum sanguineum)

Common Darter ♂

Common Darter ♂

(Sympetrum striolatum)

Moustached Darter ♂

Moustached Darter ♂

(Sympetrum vulgatum)

Banded Demoiselle ♂

Banded Demoiselle ♂

(Calopteryx splendens)

Banded Demoiselle ♀

Banded Demoiselle ♀

(Calopteryx splendens)

Small Red Damselfly ♂

Small Red Damselfly ♂

(Ceriagrion tenellum)

Large Red Damselfly ♂

Large Red Damselfly ♂

(Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

Azure Damselfly ♂

Azure Damselfly ♂

(Coenagrion puella)

Variable Damselfly ♀

Variable Damselfly ♀

(Coenagrion pulchellum)

Small Red Damselfly ♂

Small Red Damselfly ♂

(Enallagma cyathigerum)

Red-eyed Damselfly ♂

Red-eyed Damselfly ♂

(Erythromma najas)

Small Red-eyed Damselfly ♂

Small Red-eyed Damselfly ♂

(Erythromma viridulum)

Western Willow Spreadwing

Western Willow Spreadwing

(Chalcolestes viridis)

Robust Spreadwing ♂

Robust Spreadwing ♂

(Lestes dryas)

Common Spreadwing

Common Spreadwing

(Lestes sponsa)

Small Spreadwing ♀

Small Spreadwing ♀

(Lestes virens)

White-legged Damselfly ♂

White-legged Damselfly ♂

(Platycnemis pennipes)

White-legged Damselfly ♀

White-legged Damselfly ♀

(Platycnemis pennipes)

Winter Damselfly

Winter Damselfly

(Sympecma fusca)

Winter Damselfly

Winter Damselfly

(Sympecma fusca)

Siberean Winter Damsel ♀

Siberean Winter Damsel ♀

(Sympecma paedisca)