Large Red Damselfly

This was the first damselfly I saw this year and is one of the most common.  They were still around yesterday morning but are now outnumbered by blue and emerald damselflies (of which more later) and by blue-tailed damselflies.  As one might expect from the name, there is also a small red damselfly which my guidebook tells me is rare and is confined to Southern England and West Wales.

The male large red damselfly has beautiful colouring.

The female comes in three colour forms.  This is fulvipes.

This is a male in tandem with the typica form.  There is also a dark form melatonum which I have not seen.

This pair are in tandem while the female is ovipositing.