Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio)
Photography by Chris Brooks
Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly
These images were taken in Hampshire's New Forest. After a detailed search of the area, an isolated pocket of perhaps 10 males were located.
This damselfly lived up to its name. It is not common and is restricted to some very specific habitat.
They were resident in a very boggy area that was grazed by both cattle & horses which kept the bank side vegetation very low, a requirment of this species in some locations.
This species can be seen from early June until late August and sometimes into early September.
The male Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly can easily be confused with the Common Blue Tail which is generally slightly larger but not exclusively so.
The main identifying feature between the two species are the blue segements near the abdomen's tip.
In the Common Blue Tail segment 8 is all blue with segment 9 being black. In the Scarce Blue Tailed variety segment 9 is blue with about a third of segment 8. Differentiating both species apart can be challenging.
The female is green in colour with a black abdomen, immatures are bright orange.
Pop Up Gallery
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge the images)
Photographic Overview - The Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly
All of my images are taken in handheld mode without the use of any camera support and this overview is written with that in mind. In addition my primary aim is to achieve the whole of the subject in focus.
Trying to obtain good images of the Scarce Blue Tail Damselfly was challenging. They had a habit of flying and settling over the bog itself, in doing so making close ups virtually impossible owing to a lack of accessibility. Very occasionally one would venture close to the edge of the bog and a quick shot was possible with a pre-set shutter speed.
They tended to settle very low down and the images were hampered by glare from the waters surface which caused an unwanted sequin effect in some images. These are a complete spoiler in my opinion and should be avoided at all costs. I found that the best images were obtained when the background was not open water but had some green foliage in the shot. Be prepared to get on your hands and knees and get very muddy.
If you want to know more about this species, then follow this link - To Narrative
Like to see further images of this damselfly, then follow this link - To Further Images
If you want to see the best of these images, then follow this link - To Slide Show
These images were obtained by stealth and patience alone, no other non photographic techniques were used. I hope you have enjoyed browsing and that you'll return again soon.
All of these photographs were taken by and remain the property of Chris Brooks
Page Updated 07/10
Return to Home Page Narrative Further Images Slide Show Identification Guide Larvae Identification
Chris Brooks Photography
(www.dragonfly-images.co.uk)
