Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) – Devon, UK
Canon 7D
Canon 300mm F2.8 IS plus 2 x Extender and Canon Extension Tube EF 25 II
1/100th
F13
ISO 320
Fill Flash -3, Tripod
AV Mode, Evaluative Metering dialed to -2/3
Text adapted from – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_Demoiselle
The Banded Demoiselle is a species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. It is often found along slow-flowing streams and rivers and is a Eurasian species occurring from the Atlantic coast eastwards to Lake Baikal and north-western China.
This is a large damselfly with a total length of up to 48 millimetres (1.9 in) and a hindwing length of up to 36 millimetres (1.4 in).
Females can lay up to 10 eggs per minute for 45 minutes. They lay in a wide variety of emergent or floating plants, sometimes even submerging to do so.
The eggs hatch after 14 days. The larvae have very long legs and are stick-shaped. They develop over two years, usually. They tolerate muddy water and overwinter buried in mud. When they are ready to moult into an adult, they climb up a suitable reed or plant and shed their skin.
Males are usually territorial, but large numbers can sometimes be found in lush bankside plants and on floating objects. They court females by opening their wings and performing an aerial dance. They are usually found in canals and quiet rivers with muddy bottoms located in open country.
Location: Devon_UK