Small Red Damselfly

[Lester Wareham]

Small Red Damselfly, Ceriagrion tenellum: very approachable little bugs although I have never spotted one before, loads of the Large Red though.

Male
http://www.ware.myzen.co.uk/GalleryPics/Photos/Arthropods/Damselflys/Insects%20Damselfly%20T%20001-02%20270708.jpg

another male
http://www.ware.myzen.co.uk/GalleryPics/Photos/Arthropods/Damselflys/Insects%20Damselfly%20G%20002-003%20270708.jpg

think this one is a female, any confirmation?
http://www.ware.myzen.co.uk/GalleryPics/Photos/Arthropods/Damselflys/Insects%20Damselfly%20V%20004-05%20270708.jpg

[LindaB]

Lovely shots of them Lester.

Its very difficult to tell whether the last one is a female or not. If it were an adult female of the most common forms, there would be quite a lot of black on the abdomen, but there is one form which is almost identical to the male ie completely red abdomen, so its difficult to tell.

They are gorgeous little damsels though and the colour of their eyes together with the red legs is quite stunning.

Linda

[LordV]

Cute looking damselfly- lovely shots Lester.
Brian v.

[Lester Wareham]

Thanks very much Linda and Brian.

[red_fan]

Superb Lester. With your 300mm lens how far away were you from them?

Stephen

[Lester Wareham]

Thanks Stephen.

Think I was using a 25mm and a 12mm on this occasion. With the 300mm you still have quite a bit of control over the magnification from the focus ring due to its native relatively short MFD. According to theory that should give a WD range of 862 - 2648mm and a magnification range of 0.13 - 0.42X.

Of course more distance makes it easier to approach them, but the main reason is not to go wading in fragile lowland bog, which you would have to do with the 100mm.

Most dragons and damsels are approachable with a 100mm macro as long as you can get that close physically. The only ones I have had real trouble with are the Migrant Hawkers, they are very sensitive unless you can find them resting.

[johnkermit1]

wonderful series Lester.

[Sugarman]

Good job Lester!

[Bill Pham]

nice one Lester. and are they natural light too. seem like it.

Bill

[Lester Wareham]

wonderful series Lester.

Many thanks John.

Good job Lester!

Thanks SM.

nice one Lester. and are they natural light too. seem like it.

Bill

Thanks Bill.

Yes all natural light. Handheld in fairly soft light, so 800 iso I think, I add handcrafted NR layers however.

The small red seems approachable enough you might be able to get a tripod in though, but I haven't tried it.