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Scarce Emerald Damselfly


Scarce Emerald Damselfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Razvan Zinica (zetu) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 40d, Canon EF 180mm f3.5 L Macro
Exposure: f/22, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-12-12 0:38
Viewed: 2661
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lestes dryas is a species of damselfly which is found across Europe, Asia and North America. In North America it is known as the Emerald Spreadwing and this name is becoming more widely used in Europe. In Britain, it is very rare, and its popular name is the Scarce Emerald Damselfly. It can tolerate extreme conditions that few other dragonflies can survive.
Like the other members of the Lestes genus both sexes of L. dryas have largely metallic green bodies with a bronze iridescence. They usually rest with their wings half spread. L.dryas is very similar in appearance to the Emerald Damselfly L. sponsa and care must be taken to tell the two species apart.The male has blue eyes. Powder blue pruinescence develops on the front and end of the abdomen, the pronotum and the sides of the thorax. However all Lestes are very similar in appearance and it is the shape and color of the anal appendage that is characteristic. The anal appendages in L. dryas and L. sponsa are black whilst in the other European Lestes they are white or light colored.
L. dryas is found in a band around the world from 400 north to 600 north across central Europe and Asia from France to the Pacific and across north America. L. dryas is the only Lestes that occurs in Europe and in north America. Around the Mediterranean it is found at altitude. It is found in still, shallow water in well vegetated ditches, ponds, bogs and lakes. It can be found near the coast in slightly brackish water. It is widespread in Europe but is never as common as L. sponsa.Adults fly from April in the south of its range to late May in the north but are on the wing mostly in July and August. They tend to live in dense vegetation and rarely fly over open water, staying near the margins of the pond or lake. They mate in the normal damselfly manner by forming the wheel position and after copulation the male stays in tandem, guarding the female while she lays her eggs.Elongated eggs are laid, usually above water, into plant stems, such as rushes, which are covered as water levels rise in winter. The eggs develop for a few week when, in response to environmental conditions the rate of development slows down and the eggs are said to be in diapause. In this state the eggs overwinter. The eggs hatch in spring and give rise to the prolarval stage. This is a specialised short lived stage often lasting only minutes. The prolarva has no limbs and cannot feed but it can move by jumping or wriggling and if a prolarva is not in water when it hatches it will move about until water is found. Once in water the prolarva moult to the second stadia stage. The larvae are active and actively hunt prey leading to rapid larval growth. The larvae moult from one stadia to the next until growth is complete; in dragonflies the larval stages are the only stages where growth occurs. The number of stadia is not fixed and in good conditions the last larval stage, called F-0 can be reached in as little as 8 weeks. The newly emerged adults are not able to breed until a period of sexual maturation occurs and it is during this period that he blue pruinescence develops.
maurydv, roges, marius-secan, cirano, flashpoint, horias, boreocypriensis, marianas, siggi, eng55, uleko, Mello has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Razvan, fantastic dragonfly with wonderful blue eyes, splendid sharpness and fine details, beautiful natural colors, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hello Razvan,
a superb capture of Lestes dryas, good sharpness and splendid colours, i like this perfect composition
TFS
Have a good weekend
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 0 N: 1329] (6264)
  • [2009-12-12 1:48]

Salutare Razvan,
vad ca azi este ziua libelulelor frumos colorate. Excelenta redare, felicitari. O simbata frumoasa,
Adrian

Buna Razvan,
Excelenta imagine care a stat ascunsa in arhiva.(vreme nefavorabila si in Banat)
Se vad superb deataliile ochilor si ale aripilor cat si culorile.
O buna compozitie.
Marius.

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 0 N: 944] (13609)
  • [2009-12-12 4:42]

Slav Razvan,
Wonderful close up of this Damselfly with excellent sharpness and great colors.TFS.
Dūrzan

Ciao Razvan. Perfect details here and great sharp. An intrigant POV for the right POV exaltation! Well done MF.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2009-12-12 6:14]

Razvan
Iata ca azi avem o libelula de calitate!
Detaliile sunt admirabile, la fel ca si culorile!
Felicitari!
Horia

Hi Razvan,

Perfectly composed and focussed macro of this pretty damselfly with delihgtful composition and impeccable details.
TFS and have a nice WE!
Cheers,

Bayram

Razvan
Imi place libelula ta de astazi!
Detalii si culori perfecte.
Felicitari1
Mariana

Hi Razvan,
excellent shot of this elegant damsel.
The colours are so pretty and I like the metallic glance on the body.
Thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

hello razvan
this is a BEAUTY
great details the big bleu eyes, and beautiful colours
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2009-12-12 10:21]

Hello Razvan,
The sharpness and clarity are amazing. You have captured every detail - the wings are marvelous. The colors stand out so well the BG.Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2009-12-12 12:44]

Hi Razvan,
Very nice capture of this damselfly.Sharpness,POV,natural colors and details are wonderful.Have a great weekend!
Thanks for posting..

  • Great 
  • bedri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 111 W: 0 N: 237] (1284)
  • [2009-12-12 13:38]

Hi Razvan,
Very nice details, extereme and excellent shot. Congratulations..
Best regards,
Bedri..

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2009-12-13 2:05]

Hello Razvan,
A wonderful capture of this beautiful damselfly in a lovely pose! Excellent focus, sharpness, colours and background. Well composed too!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Mello Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 140 W: 34 N: 480] (2419)
  • [2009-12-14 11:36]

Very nice capture dear Razvan.
Great POV, DOF and composition.
Best wishes,
Francisco

another great capture in natural enviroment,
I like posture of this dryas with beautiful blue eyes
good details and definition
bravo Ravzan ciao sERGIO

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