{"id":417,"date":"2023-01-28T15:02:40","date_gmt":"2023-01-28T15:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/holtlowes.org\/?page_id=417"},"modified":"2023-02-02T16:19:09","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T16:19:09","slug":"dragonflies-and-damselflies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/holtlowes.org\/?page_id=417","title":{"rendered":"Dragonflies and Damselflies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This group of insects belong to the order Odonata<\/strong> which is very well represented on the Lowes. After mating, females lay their eggs in submerged aquatic vegetation. The eggs hatch into an aquatic larval form called a nymph which spends at least one year predating aquatic organisms under water. With all the streams and ponds on the Lowes, is a very good location for such species. In dragonflies the wings are held at right angles to the thorax and level with it. In most Damselflies the wings are folded backwards above the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dragonflies<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Keeled Skimmer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

The most iconic insect on the Lowes, until a few years ago this was the only site for this dragonfly in East Anglia. Positive management over the last 25 years has resulted in a massive increase in the number of Keeled Skimmers on the Lowes and this may be the reason that the species has now colonised (or re-colonised) other sites in Norfolk, such as Beeston Common and Roydon Common.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Emperor Dragonfly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Male Emperor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is the UK’s largest Dragonfly. and it is very distinctive. Females are more sombre green and blue. The larva or nymph is a large and powerful predator of aquatic life including tadpoles, crustacea and other insect larvae<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
female Emperor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Emperor Nymph<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can see these two in action in the video:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n