[290] Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Large Red Damselfy
Introduction
Pyrrhosoma nymphula is our last species of Damselfly. It’s something like the other damselflies we have seen before but it’s quite large and it’s more or less red!
Taxonomy
Kingdom – Animals
Phylum – Arthropods
Class – Insects
Order – Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Family – Coeanagrionidae
Genus – Pyrrhosoma
Scientific Name – Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Name
It’s not hard to find an explanation for this insect’s common name.
Pyrrho-soma means a fiery red body, from Latinized Greek. Lots of insects, especially butterflies and damselflies, seem to be named after attractive ladies or nymphs.
Description
The male Pyrrhosoma nymphula is mostly black with red markings.
Females come in several types with varying amounts of red.
Nymphs have a two-year life. They grow through their first winter and hibernate for the second.
Habitat
This damselfly is widespread and common over all of the UK and is found over most of Europe.
See also
There is a Small Red Damselfly, Ceriagron tenellum, that is a little bit smaller. It is much rarer and is found only in a few small areas of England.
The Species of Britain 