Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) – Body length 33–39 mm – Female seen on the dike in July

Dragonflies and damselflies

Photos: 6

Dragonflies and damselflies are an insect group with 53 Danish species in all. Their life cycle has three stages: egg, larva (called a nymph) and adult. The eggs are laid on water plants or straight into fresh water. Unless they overwinter, the eggs hatch within two to four weeks. How long the nymph stage lasts varies from species to species and depends on temperature and the amount of food. The development into an adult insect takes 10–15 moults.

More photos

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) – Body length 33–39 mm – Female seen on the dike in July
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) – Body length 33–39 mm – Male seen on the dike in August
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) – Body length 40–48 mm – Female seen in the plantation in May
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) – Body length 71–74 mm – Seen on the dike in October
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) – Body length 30–33 mm – Male seen in the plantation in May