Large Red Damselfly

Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Date First Recorded in the Garden: 21.05.2008

Family Coenagrionidae: Pond Damselflies

According to online sources, the Coenagrionidae family is the largest of the damselfly families, with over 1,300 species worldwide. This family of damselflies is often referred to as Pond Damselflies.

Genus Pyrrhosoma: Large Red Damsels

Only one species in the UK for this genus, the Large Red Damselfly reported/recorded below. The only species you are likely to mistake this for is the Small Red Damselfly, Ceriagrion tenellum, which is less common and more restricted to the southern parts of the UK. However the two species can easily be separated by the colour of their legs, which are black in the Large Red and red in the Small Red.

Pyrrhosoma nymphula – Large Red Damselfly

The image at the top of this page is of a female. We believe the image below is of a male, note the females black markings are by comparison more extensive.

We often have these guys breeding in the Garden, and in 2024 we had a massive crop of emerging adults from the boggy area we created. It was amazing to watch them emerge and de-wrinkle before our eyes, although it took a surprising amount of time.

Below is one of the exuviae left behind (the discarded larval exoskeleton); these can be used to identify species with the right reference materials.

And we are glad to say these guys have been quick to use the new pond to reproduce in 2024, note how the male and female remain locked together during egg laying in the clip below.