Brown Hawker Nymph / Large Red Damselfly Nymph
Aeshna grandis - Pyrrhosoma nymphula
As anyone reading my blog will know my passion for dragonflies and damselflies has gained momentum in the past few years but what do you do in the winter months to pass the winter months away? Well you buy yourself a glass tank, do quite a bit of reading on rearing and photographing dragonfly larvae and go down to the local pond or lake and see what you can find. I am lucky to have permission to catch a few nymphs from Nethergong campsite which has a number of small pools which last year had plenty of odonata there. During trips there I have managed to catch a small Emperor Dragonfly nymph about 15mm long, a 25mm Brown Hawker nymph, 1 Broad bodied Chaser nymph and a few Large Red, Azure and Blue tailed Damselfly. This has presented me with many photographic sessions where I have been able to study these nymphs under the water as they go about their lives. By lighting the tank well and following a few rules I have been very pleased with a number of photos I have been able to take through the glass of the various species. I have not seen the Brown Hawker actually catch anything but have seen it eating the remains of a damselfly nymph and have watched it stalking prey, a sight that many of us have never seen and is very fascinating. The season is not far away now but until then, I will continue to photograph the nymphs and hope in a months time or so I will be able to get some photos of the Large Red Damselflies emerging from either the tank, my pond or at various locals ponds. I will post a few more nymph photos soon.
Large Red Damselfly Nymph
Marc Heath
Wow wow wow Marc! It is the fantastic series, the images that we do not even see in the specialized literature! Technically perfected also, how you did solve the problem of the fouling of windows? I look forward to seeing the continuation, these hunting scenes and, why not, captures! A warm congratulations for this very good job! Greetings, M.
RépondreSupprimerJust another question: are the two species in the same tank? ;-) M.
SupprimerNo. I have a few tanks with them in although there are some damselfly larvae in with the Brown Hawker as well as other small water insects and bugs. Thanks for your comments.
RépondreSupprimer"Tank" you Marc! M.
SupprimerWOW, Marc, I don't know where to start!!
RépondreSupprimerI saw some of these photos on your Flick gallery as you must know and was already very impressed!
You have chosen some fabulous shot to share with, many thanks!!
Your work, not just as an odonata photograph, is amazing and your larvae studies will shed a new and interesting light on their life modes even for scientists.
I can only wish you will share your new discoveries with us and I will link this post up with my personal blog http://1000-pattes.blogspot
Sincere congratulations!
Bonjour Marc,
RépondreSupprimerDésolé de répondre en Français, je ne parle pas Anglais. Se sont de superbes photos avec une très belle gestion de l'éclairage et un beau décors, sans compter une mise au point parfaite sur les larves. Je suis vraiment admiratif de ton travail et j'espère que tu vas pouvoir photographier des scènes de prédations. J'espère que tes photos vont me donner le courage d'en faire autant car j'ai construit des mini aquariums il y a 4 ans (7cm de long, 2cm de large et 5cm de haut) pour photographier des larves.
Amicalement,
What particularly to and should do this.
RépondreSupprimerVery interesting to see and to read.
Greetings, Helma