Ebony jewelwing damselfly, we saw several of them today on our walk. You might think it is a dragonfly and they are related, but it is a damselfly. (Dragonfly- when at rest, the wings are held straight out from the body. Damselfly- the wings are folded together behind.) The name fits it perfectly! It is solid black with a bright wing, like a turquoise jewel, Of course, there are two wings, but the tiny creature folds the wings together when at rest, so it looks like one. It eats aphids, gnats and other insects like mosquitoes and is a very welcome sight in the summer.
I tried to find a photo of an ebony jewelwing damselfly but I found a video that shows it off nicely. You can see the color much better and also how graceful it is in its movement.
I have been away from the internet for several days but hopefully, will be able to visit all of you again very soon! Hope you are all well and noticing beauty all around you. Sometimes, even a tiny insect has the most amazing color, like a jewel.
It is a great picture and no wonder you wanted to have it on your post, Kay!
ReplyDeleteDragonflies and damselflies are beautiful creatures, welcome to us but probably less so to gnats and mosquitoes ;-)
I saw plenty here at Harewood House lake yesterday but as usual, was way too slow with my camera.
Thanks, Meike, I really love that picture and it is special to me since it was Christopher's.
DeleteI bet the lake at Harewood House was lovely in the summer! I love your posts from Yorkshire, you really make me want to visit there. xx
I have a pond near my house that dragonflies nest in and every year I look forward to seeing the first of the season. There is something so magical about dragonflies and apparently they are supposed to be good luck. My husband's mother however, as a girl was told that they sew your eyes shut as you sleep! I looked this up and it's indeed a folk tale from I can't remember where now. Great idea for a book, maybe. 😜
ReplyDeleteMagical, that is just perfect for them!
DeleteAnd the idea of the story, that should go to Stephen King, you know he could roll with that one! :-)
Dragonflies and damselflies are among the prettiest of all the creatures.
ReplyDeleteI do love to see them, in flight and at rest.
DeleteLovely view! Watching dragonflies and damsel flies fascinates both me and the cats. They love to watch them on Cat TV (meaning, through the windows).
ReplyDeleteCat TV, that's funny! :-)
DeleteAnd what a beautiful name it has. You know it has to be lovely with a name like that. I really liked the little movie. It must have been so hard to shoot it. Whenever I have tried to photograph damselflies I have failed. Not that I have ever seen one exactly like that. I wonder what the bird was chirping in the background.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the little movie too! I love the sound of the water and the bird in the background. I am not sure of the bird either, but I will ask Richard if he knows and will add to this if he can tell me!
DeleteGlad you like the name too, it is perfect for it!
Wow, it is beautiful, don't think I've ever seen one.
ReplyDeleteWe have seen them at Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain, on the wooded trails there. When you see one, you will know the name!
DeleteExcellent top picture, the view from the mountain is good.
ReplyDeleteThanks, that was one of Richard's photos, of course! It is the view from Stone Mountain after a heavy rain.
DeleteI love damselflies and would not be surprised if they contributed to the fairy myth especially as their bodies interlinked in courtship often form a perfect heart shape. The heart shape in cards and pictures certainly didn't come from our own hearts exposed as the actual shape of that is miles away from the accepted universal design and would have been a common sight in the fields every summer with damselflies mating. Certainly most of the fairies in film and book illustrations are directly inspired from real life damselflies, down to the wing movements and transparent four panels.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the damselfly videos, I know exactly what you mean about the heart shape. Once again, if I had not written this post I would never have noticed the four transparent panels, so delicate and beautiful! (I only saw this on the videos, I have never been so close that I could see them.)
DeleteThanks very much for your comment here!
I'm practically glued to the TV these days and I imagine the status quo shall remain up until the Closing Ceremony of the Olympics! :)
ReplyDeleteI have not been able to see much, only in bits and pieces that I have recorded, but I have very much enjoyed what I have seen! It stays on so late here!
DeleteLove the damselfly - my knowledge of wildlife is easily contained on a postage stamp. I do recognise that shot of Eastbourne, though it was a long tome ago that I was there.
ReplyDeleteYou have wonderful wildlife there! Don't you watch "Spring Watch"? My in-laws love that show!
DeleteI notice that more and more films are made around Eastbourne, so more folks might recognize it!
First time I've seen a damselfly, and what a gorgeous thing it is. Beautiful colour and shape, and would make a beautiful piece of jewellery!
ReplyDeleteIt really would make an exquisite piece of jewelry. (Oh, I just noticed you spell it "jewellery", and I thought I had spelled it incorrectly, but that is the ENGLISH/AUSTRALIAN way! LOL.)
DeleteI have never heard of a damselfly, but will keep my eye out.
ReplyDeleteWe have seen them for years at Stone Mountain, on the Cherokee Trail under the trees. Now, you will have to look out for them!
DeleteWhat a beautiful damselfly and great video - you could actually see its mouth moving! We've had a few (less spectacular) ones on our local lake this year and they're so pretty. X
ReplyDeleteI wanted very much to show you a photo of the damselfly, so I was pleased to find this great video on YouTube for you! I once saw a butterfly in England, it was white and the wings were edged in gold, I am telling you, it was magical! x
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