Damsel dramas

In the world of the damselfly, scorching Saturday was a busy one in my garden. I couldn’t help but keep popping back to the pond to watch the events unfold.

There was no action until about 10 o’clock, as the sun swings round and floods the pond with light. As if from nowhere, the mature adult male damselflies of two species arrived at the pond – Large Red, and Azure. They took up station on the flat pads of Marsh Marigold leaves, and would then foray out into the flower beds before returning and sparring with partners.

At the same time, new Blue-tailed Damselflies were emerging from the pond. The larvae would haul themselves from the water that has been their home for a year, crawl up vertical stems, and hatch as pale, colourless young adults, called tenerals.

By midday, the teneral Blue-tails, now dry, were taking to the air, all gossamer winged, and heading away from the pond, where they will spend several days feeding and gaining colour. At the same time, mature adult female Azure and Large Reds were being located by the males, presumably as they flew back in looking for a mate. Lucky males would grab them, cling onto them by the back of the neck, and bend into the mating wheel position (left).

By afternoon, the mated pairs were down on the pond surface, the females egg laying.

But in one of nature’s cruel twists, one Blue-tailed had got its body caught up in one of its wings as it emerged (right). It knew it ought to be flying free of the pond, and it kept trying to flutter its wings, but – a damsel in distress – it was to no avail. After a year waiting for this moment, it had all gone fatally wrong.

So there it was life, love and death, all in the 3.15x1.35m that is my garden pond. I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but be captivated. And, as requested, more on ponds in my blog entry this coming Friday...