Large Red Damselfly - Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Often the earliest dragonfly or damselfly to appear, it is relatively easy to identify being red and black, with the black legs, which distinguish it from the Small Red Damselfly. 
Larvae are distinctive with extended wing sheaths, which reach almost to abdominal section 6. The head is squarish, with a straight line forming its rear margin. Two dark bands are present on the femur. Broad, strongly pointed lamellae with characteristic dark spotting.

The Large Red Damselfly has a preference for well-vegetated sites, and is found on a variety of water bodies including ponds, lakes, rivers and canals.

Mid April until the end of August.

The Large Red normally has a two year life cycle. Unusually for dragonflies, the larvae are territorial as well as the adult males.

Widespread throughout most of Britain.

This species is widely distributed though somewhat local within the VC55 area.

This species is widely distributed though somewhat local within VC55. The Large Red Damselfly has a preference for well-vegetated sites, and is found on a variety of water bodies including ponds, lakes, rivers and canals. The Charnwood area would appear to be a stronghold, though records have been received from scattered locations throughout VC 55 (Grover and Ikin, 1994). Historically it has been described as 'widely distributed' (Gillman, 1936) and 'abundant' (Longfield, 1949), though it seems unlikely that it was ever more widely distributed than it is at present.