The Willow Emerald Damselfly — WildArt Photographer of the Year

Willow Emerald Damselfly - Chalcolestes viridis

By Rob Read

*Above: The Willow Emerald Damselfly is a delicate and beautiful insect. Note the green colour, the wing spots and the small, dark spur on the side of the thorax. ©Rob Read*

Last week I spent a lovely day catching up with fellow Wild Read contributor and friend Rebecca Nason. The weather this summer hasn’t exactly been kind most of the time, but lady luck smiled, and we were treated to one of the better days of July. Lucky indeed as the following day it bucketed down.

We met up in a large private garden on the Essex/Suffolk border and I was immediately greeted with the sight of numerous Spotted Flycatchers flying back and forth across the garden as they collected all manner of insects. It seemed that there were at least two breeding pairs in residence, both proudly showing off this year’s offspring. It was a joy to see these birds in such numbers, I usually get the odd glimpse over the summer months before they disappear for warmer climes later in the year.

One of their primary hunting grounds appeared to be a small mature pond. This pond produced the second thrill of the day as it was home to numbers of a rather delicate and beautiful damselfly called the Willow Emerald (Chalcolestes viridis), a name no doubt derived from its metallic green colour and habitat preferences. This was the first time I had seen this species and I was delighted to be able to photograph it.

The Willow Emerald is a recent colonist of the UK, being first recorded in numbers in 2009 in southeast Suffolk. Prior to this only a handful of records existed, but it has since spread. It’s range is currently restricted to Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and Kent. No doubt the effects of climate change are at play, and the species will likely spread further across the country as time goes on.

Its habitat preferences are for ponds, canals and other bodies of still water that have plentiful overhanging trees, within which it likes to seek refuge for long periods. It also uses the bark of these trees in which to lay its eggs, showing a preference for Willow and Alder.

When I got back home, Rebecca emailed me to say that she had reviewed a few of the photographs she had taken of the Spotted Flycatchers. Our assumption that they were, in part, feasting on these bright green damselflies was correct as one of her images clearly showed a bird with one of these beautiful insects in its beak.

Currently, if you want to see this damselfly, then you’ll have to travel east. I have a feeling they might soon become a feature in other parts of the UK, so keep an eye out for this green beauty as it extends its range.

Rob Read. August 2021.