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.

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. The Charnwood area would appear to be a stronghold, though records have been received from scattered locations throughout Leicestershire & Rutland.

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.