Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Large Red Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly male
The Large Red damselfly occurs throughout the British Isles and much of Europe. There is nothing large about the Large Red other than its name; it is a small damselfly some 32-35mm long.
Large Red Damselfly male
Large Red Damselfly female
The male, above left, has a black and red upper thorax, the black having a gold sheen in some lights, and a yellow underside; his abdomen is red with a clearly defined set of black markings on the "tail" end (see top row). The female, above right, is wider and has more black on the abdomen - sometimes wholly black but with thin yellow rings. Both have black legs.
Large Red Damselfly The Large Red is one of the earliest damselflies on the wing in the year.
Large Red Damselfly male The yellow under-part
Large Red Damselfly coupled
Large Red Damselfly
Pair coupled in tandem, showing the slim male and fatter-bodied female.
Large Red Damselfly The yellow and black face with large red eyes
Large Red Damselfly The gold sheen on the thorax
Large Red Damselfly Close-up of eye and yellow on thorax
Large Red Damselfly female The female has much more black on her abdomen and has yellow dividing the segments.
Large Red Damselfly The amount of black is variable from almost none to almost wholly black.
Large Red Damselflies ovipositing Male and female ovipositing in tandem. His four wings like helicopter blades allow him to hover while she is stationary.
Large Red Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly
The Large Red is only some 5mm longer than the Small Red damselfly. The male of the latter has a completely red abdomen and both Small Reds have red rather than black legs.