Damsel in Distress!

More often than not, my photos are often of dragonflies and damselflies that have successfully emerged but with every emergence, the risk can be quite high that they may not make it to the adult stage for a variety of reasons. During my travels and watching a number of species emerge, the amount of factors that need to go in the damselflies favor are quite incredible. They must first make sure they find a good sheltered support but with every bit of wind, they could be blown back into the water where they may drown. They may not be enough room to fully emerge and wings and bodies may not be fully formed. When emerging, they may become stuck in the exuviae which probably will result in certain death, plenty of predators will be waiting for an easy meal as when fresh, they are unable to fly off. Plenty of spiders and birds will happily catch and pick off these newly emerged and soft individuals and even when emerged, individuals can fall into the water and drown. I think I have made the point in that every dragonfly and damselfly you see has gone through and hopefully successfully overcome these problems and will continue the cycle on for the next generation. Today whilst at the pond, I come across an emerging Azure Damselfly which had got caught in its own exuviae. Part of the head had not been released which caused quite a struggle for the damselfly.

Emerging Azure Damselfly

It continued to emerge as normal but all the time, struggling to free itself. I didn't know whether to intervene but looking how fragile it was, I thought I would probably do more damage than good. After a while, it had fully emerged and when its wings and abdomen had pumped up, it continued to try to free itself and with obviously more strength, it pulled off the part of the exuviae that it was attached too but it still remained over the head and eye.

Emerging Azure Damselfly showing 'stuck head'

I come inside for a while but popped out later to see if it was around. It had gone. Had it successfully flown off or had the local House Sparrows found it? Either way, unfortunately, I suspect that this individual might not make it or you never know, will it? It was quite hard photographing this event, knowing and showing how raw nature can be at times but it does make you think what these individual have to go through to make it to being an adult. I suspect for most of us, we never take a moment to think about this when a dragonfly or damselfly flies past us.

Emerging Azure Damselfly showing 'stuck head'