Damselfly Topography
By Chris Brooks
Glossary of Terms
Antennae - Sensory organs on the top of the damselflies head.
Pterostigma - An coloured patch on the front edge of each wing. This can be elongated or fairly short and can range from black through various shades of brown to red.
Antehumeral Stripes - Stripes on the upper surface of the thorax. These are an aid to species identification.
Abdominal Segments - The abdomen is divided into clear segments which are also an aid to species identification. A segment may contain areas of unique marking or colour.
Anal Appendage - Used in the mating process.
Thoracic Spiracle - Used for ventillating the wing muscles.
This striking image of the male White Legged Damselfly shows the body and wing parts, which have been named & labelled for your information.
A fuller description of each body part can be found in the glossary of terms below.
Chris Brooks Photography
(www.dragonfly-images.co.uk)
