Celebrating the Willow Emerald Damselflies Success

This year I have spent more time studying and photographing the Willow Emerald Damselfly than any other species, and with some very interesting results. I am very lucky that I am able to visit Nethergong Campsite which hosts a good population of this damselfly and after a bit of searching around early on in the season for likely areas for them, I was able to witness most of the lifecycle of the Willow Emerald Damselfly. I spent a lot of hours searching for them emerging in August and soon found a good stretch of stream where I started to find exuviae and it wasn't long until further searching provided me with emerging Willow Emerald Damselflies.

'Newly Emerged' Willow Emerald Damselfly (female)

It was quite notable that even when I started searching very early in the morning for them that a number must have emerged earlier in the dark with a good number seen sitting low down in the reeds. They continued to emerge from early to mid morning and provided me with countless hours of photography.

Willow Emerald Damselfly (male) 

Willow Emerald Damselfly (female) 

Willow Emerald Damselfly (male)

I set about trying to collect a nymph so I could photograph this in my indoor tank and after a few dips into the weed with a net, I duly caught one which was taken home to photograph and study with some pleasing results.

Willow Emerald Damselfly Nymph

Better was to come as it looked likely that it would emerge and after putting a few sticks into the tank, I went out late evening to see that it was already in position to emerge. I spent the next few hours watching and photographing the emergence from start to finish and still marvel at this miracle of nature.

'Emerging' Willow Emerald Damselfly

After it had fully emerged the next morning, I duly returned the damselfly back to Nethergong to continue its life. I continued monitoring the site and probably had in excess of 150 individuals that emerged from a stretch of stream c100 yards in length. 

Willow Emerald Damselfly (female)

What did myth me however was the lack of Willow or other trees on this stretch of stream and it was my curiosity that led me to discover a British first. Whilst watching the damselflies mid afternoon one day, I started seeing tandem pairs arriving at the stream where they would land on stinging nettle stems, some overhanging the water. I soon saw that this was no accident as they started to oviposit into the stems themselves. I continued to witness this behaviour over a period of weeks and saw quite a few pairs acting in the same manner. It was indeed very rewarding after hours of observations that I may have found some new behaviour for this species. As the season progressed, they started to disperse into others areas of the campsite while other pairs were seen in tandem ovipositing into the traditional willow trees over water.

Willow Emerald Damselfly 

I shall monitor these over the winter and perhaps next year, even attempt to photograph the small nymphs not long after they have emerged. It looks good for the future so far with the Willow Emerald Damselfly at this site and its good to hear that they are continuing to spread north and westwards in this country. They have given me many hours of pleasure this year and an education into their lives, no doubt there is a lot more to be learnt and appreciated about this stunning damselfly. 

Willow Emerald Damselfly (female)