Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae

It was one of my challenges this year to collect a number of species exuviae for my collection and one of them was the Downy Emerald. Whilst I have seen this species a few times in Kent, it was a trip to Thursley Common in Surrey which saw me arriving early on the 12th May. I was soon checking the vegetation around the moat where I soon found the first of a number of Downy Emerald emerging and with that, I was then able to collect some exuviae which when you got your eye in, were quite numerous in the area. Having never seen the exuviae before, I was armed with one particular identification feature to look out for and that was the two dark stripes on the side of the thorax. This when seen was quite noticeable thankfully. Having collected quite a few on the day, I have finally got round to photographing a few exuviae to hopefully show off some of the features needed to identify this species. Having mentioned the two dark stripes on the side of the thorax, other features to look out for are the long spider type legs, deep serrations on the labial palps, dorsal spines present on S4 -S9 but the dorsal spine on S9 is small compared to the S9 dorsal spine on the Brilliant Emerald. I have also collected the exuviae of this species this year which I shall photograph in due coarse and then do a comparison of both exuviae of the species.

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae showing two dark stripes on the side of the thorax

 

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae showing two dark stripes on the side of the thorax

  

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae showing two dark stripes on the side of the thorax

  

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae showing the deep serrations on the Labial Palps and long antennae

  

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae showing the dorsal spines including the small dorsal spine on S9

  

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae - top

  

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae showing lateral spines on S8 and S9

  

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) Exuviae showing head shape and thorax

  

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea)  Exuviae underside