Wednesday 3 January 2018

Common Clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus) Exuviae

Back in May 2015, I made a visit to Pangbourne in Berkshire to see the rare Common Clubtail dragonfly. Despite its 'Common' name, it is nationally not common at all and is a dragonfly that we do not have in Kent. As well as seeing the dragonfly which we did on the day, I was also eager to look for and hopefully collect an exuviae of this species. I spent quite a while searching likely areas for them where they had been found a few weeks earlier but despite this, I didn't find any. This dragonfly spends between 3-5 years as a nymph in the slow moving rivers and on emergence, they often can emerge horizontally rather than the traditional vertical emergence. I have yet to see and witness this but have seen a number of photos and videos showing this. If I can make the time this year and its fit in, I  may well make another visit to see this stunning dragonfly and once again, search the emergent vegetation and banks for the diagnostic exuviae. Little did I know that my luck was going to change as last year, I had a message from fellow odonata enthusiast, Jon Mee, who knowing I was collecting dragonfly and damselfly exuviae, asked if I wanted a Common Clubtail exuviae as he had a couple of them. I jumped at the chance but as Jon lives in Norfolk, I was going to have to cross my fingers that it would arrive safely in the post. A few days past and it arrived all safely wrapped up and I at last, was able to have a good study of this exuviae. It was larger than I expected but I was able to see the small diagnostic heart shaped head, short horn like antennae, squat liked appearance and the rectangular mask. I also noted that this individual was a female. I was going to give it a clean as this species spends most of their time in the silt but decided against this as I didn't want to damage it and thought it added to the character of the exuviae. Its sat in my collection now for a few months and with the season all finished, I thought I would spend a while today taking some photos from different angles. To know that this individual has spent up to 5 years growing and then has one early morning, emerged as an adult and left this evidence of it being there and now its in my collection, is a very nice feeling indeed. I get just as excited about the story this nymph has been through as well as photographing the exuviae. I have a few more exuviae to photograph in the next few weeks which I have in the collection which I shall post in due coarse. 

Common Clubtail Exuviae (top side) 

Common Clubtail Exuviae (underside) 

Common Clubtail Exuviae (mask) 

Common Clubtail Exuviae (side view) 

Common Clubtail Exuviae (side view) 

Common Clubtail Exuviae (head) 

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful images, but, gruesome.

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    1. There not the best looking are they but fascinating nonetheless. To think it's been underwater for up to 5 years in some cases is pretty amazing. A nice momento to keep.

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  2. Not quite my cup of tea Marc, nethertheless interesting.

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    1. We all see the dragonflies flying in the summer but seldom think about this part of their lives which they spend more time at. A fascinating part of natural history.

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  3. Jon is a really good sort, he really helped me in the summer when I went to Norfolk. Good to see you have another for the collection Marc. See if we can fit in a visit for the dragons in the summer!!

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    1. I'm sure we can find the time to meet up at some point in Kent. I wouldn't minded a visit your way to see the mature male Clubtails which you have seen before I believe.

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  4. I'm delighted to see you now have a super specimen of this species, Marc, even if you haven't yet managed to find one for yourself. Your photography of it is up to its usual excellent standard.

    Common Clubtail is on my hit list for this year, so if you see a guy with a camera by the river at Pangbourne or Goring looking lost, it might well be me! However, might try on the Severn as it's a bit nearer. Missed them on the Severn this year as the weather turned foul just before I arrived, and stayed that way!

    Best wishes - - - Richard

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    1. The great British weather does tend to spoil a lot of things doesn't it. Hopefully you will see them this year. Just make sure you Che k the weather first. If I can make the time, I may well try again this year at Pangbourne.

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