Demoiselle…metallic blue-green damselflies….gorgeous insects
A type of damselfly, the demoiselle is extraordinarily beautiful. It is a metallic blue green colour that shimmers in sunlight…a similar Damselfly in America is called the Ebony Jewel-wing a much better name for this stunning insect.
Eggs of the demoiselle are laid on vegetation close to water…along the streams of Cockington Water Meadows. The larvae live in water for two years and then climb out and cling to plant leaves beside the stream until they emerge several hours later as an adult.
The demoiselle can be seen from May until August. But I worry that some people walking in the Water Meadows let their dogs off the leads and let them race through the streams dislodging the eggs and larvae.
I have asked the council to post a notice to inform people about these insects and how we can ensure their survival in our area, but they ignored my request.
Habitat loss and pollution effect the numbers of these insects and in some countries of Europe they have become endangered. We are lucky to have them.
devon2mother 