CHESHIRE ODONATA

16th May 2025

Jenna and I searched for White-legged Damselflies near Beeston Castle in Cheshire this afternoon. Fortunately, while Jenna was attempting to catch a moth we wanted to examine, she accidentally caught a teneral White-legged Damselfly instead. It must have been resting low in the grass.

White Legged damselfly 

Pale Damselfly with obvious broad pale legs.

Male: Pale blue with black markings.

Female: Cream with black markings.

This was a new species of Odonata for us both, but we will return now that we know they are in this area for better photographs and when they mature into adults.

31st May 2025

Thanks to my good friend Andy Goodwin, Jenna and I received a tip about a location to see the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly near Mow Cop. It didn't take us long to reach the small pools he mentioned, and we spotted one right away among the reeds. We managed to get good views of at least three individual Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Very similar to the more common Blue-tailed damselfly

Male: mostly black with a small blue patch at the end of the abdomen.

Female: mostly black and green-brown on the underside. Immature females are bright orange.

These dainty little damselflies were first discovered in Cheshire at a site close to Mow Cop by Andy Goodwin about 6 years ago, although it’s probable that they have been at this site for longer. They have been recorded every year since, and so clearly have established a self-sustaining population. This is great news as the species is on the GB Red List (Near Threatened).