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Few insects can match the jewel-like colours of the dragonflies
and damselflies which enliven the Gardens during the summer months.
Their vivid adult lives are all too short, lasting a few months
at most. In contrast their larval stage may take up to five years
in some species and is spent underwater.
Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the same insect order, Odonata,
and are easy to distinguish despite their similarities.
The damselflies are smaller and altogether more slender than the
dragonflies. At rest they close their wings and fold them back over
their abdomens. The dragonflies are much chunkier in appearance
and hold their wings open at right angles to their abdomens when
at rest.
Five species of damselfly and nine of dragonfly have been recorded
at Kew in recent year. Most breed in the Gardens but numbers are
also augmented by migrants. Sit and watch for a selection from the
following list at the Waterlily Pond, Lake or Aquatic Garden from
mid-May to September.
Damselflies
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas (Hansemann)
A fairly robust dark-coloured damselfly with striking red eyes.
This species prefers stillwaters or very slow moving waterways with
plenty of floating foliage. All Kew’s records are from the
Lake where males can be seen perching on the leaves of aquatic plants
in late June and early July.
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum (Charp.)
The males have a blue and black banded abdomen while females occur
in blue, brown or green colour forms. Common Blue Damselflies exploit
many different water bodies and can be found at Kew at the Lake,
Banks Building Pond, Aquatic Garden and Waterlily Pond between May
and September.
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans (van der Linden)
A distinctive species with a dark abdomen bearing a blue band near
the end in both the males and some females. It is much the commonest
damselfly at Kew and has been recorded from early June to late August.
Look for both males and females fluttering low down among bankside
plantings around the Lake or Waterlily Pond while males especially
may be encountered flying over the grass almost anywhere in the
Gardens.
Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa (Hansemann)
This species has a metallic emerald-green body; in addition the
males have powder-blue on the thorax and near the end of the abdomen.
It prefers brackish water and is not seen every year at Kew but
it is always worth looking out for it along the boundary between
the Gardens and the Thames towpath
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens (Harris)
The males of this conspicuous species are gunmetal-blue with a broad
inky band across the wings while the females are bright green. Their
flight is reminiscent of a butterfly’s as they flutter around
aquatic plants in the Waterlily Pond.
A further three damselfly species, Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma
nymphula, Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella and Variable
Blue Damselfly, Coenagrion pulchelleum, have been seen at
Kew but there are no recent records of them.
Dragonflies
Hairy Dragonfly Brachtron pratense (Mull.)
Both males and females have hairy thoraxes although this is not
easy to see at any distance. The males are marked with apple green
and bright blue while the females are brown and yellow. This rather
scarce species was first recorded at Kew in 2002 where it’s
arrival was not unexpected since it is expanding it’s range
at the moment. Look out for it around the Lake in late May or June.
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea (Mull.)
The broad yellow/green stripes on the thorax of this dragonfly are
characteristic. It likes garden ponds where it will breed but surprisingly
it is recorded only as a scarce, probably annual visitor at Kew.
It is occasionally seen between early July and late August hunting
over land in various sunny parts of the Gardens.
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis (L.)
This conspicuous hunter with orangey-brown wings is present every
year in variable numbers between mid-July and late September. Often
just a single one is seen but there can be five or more individuals
on one day. It favours the Lake and Syon Vista but visits many other
open sunny spots.
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea (L.)
This species has wings with a golden front edge and blue, green
and yellow spots on the abdomen. Present in low numbers at Kew during
August in most years.
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta (Latrielle)
The commonest and smallest hawker in the Gardens. It is similar
to the last species but has an inverted yellow triangle at the base
of the abdomen and the wings have a dark front edge. It flies from
late July till as late as early November, the great majority being
seen in August and September. As many as nine can be found on a
good day, hunting at the Lake, along Syon Vista and in many other
sunny rides and corners.
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator (Leach)
A large and beautiful species, the prominent black line down the
blue (male) or green (female) abdomen of this big dragonfly is sufficient
for identification. They are occasionally seen at the Waterlily
Pond and the Aquatic Garden between late July and mid-August.
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum (L.)
The males have a narrow powder-blue abdomen and the females and
juveniles are yellow. Females turn dull grey with age but sometimes
become blue like the male. The larvae live in mud, unlike those
of the dragonflies listed above which live in water weed.
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa (L.)
Easily recognised by its broad plump abdomen which is powder-blue
in the adult male and pale brown in females and juveniles. The larvae
live in mud. The adults can be seen from late May until mid-July
at the Waterlily Pond, Aquatic Garden and the small pond in the
Dukes Garden.
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum (Charp.)
The smallest dragonfly at Kew; the slender abdomen is dull red in
adult males and pale brown in females and juveniles. This is the
last dragonfly of the year at Kew emerging in late summer and often
lingering into October. It can be found anywhere in the Gardens
even some way from water. Adults bask on the warmest surfaces which
they can find such as paths, fences, hosepipes and even an outstretched
hand.
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