Over all length 33 – 36mm. A fairly robust damselfly, which is one of the earliest to emerge each spring. The males are mainly red and the females have more black on them. There are three types of female with varying amounts of black markings on their abdomens and one, the blackest, has yellow stripes on the thorax instead of red.
Habitat
Ponds and ditches are attractive to this species and, away from water, they may be found foraging or basking along hedgerows.
Status and Distribution
This is an uncommon insect at the lagoons but one or two individuals turn up most years, but they do not breed. It is common and widespread throughout most of Britain and Ireland.
Best Time to See
Late May to early July.
Gallery
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, female, intermedia form, 26th May 2013
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, male
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, female, fulvipes form - May 15th 2023
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, female, fulvipes form - May 15th 2023
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, female, typica form - May 13th 2025
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, male - May 15th 2023
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, male - May 15th 2023
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, male - May 15th 2023
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, male - June 9th 2023
Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphura, male - 14th May 2026
All photography taken at the Netherfield Lagoons, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.
