The brown shading on the wings of this female Beautiful Demoiselle tell us that she isn't yet a fully mature adult. When she is, her wings will be almost clear, with a hint of green. We also know that she didn't emerge from her underwater life here, as Demoiselles only breed in fast flowing rivers and there are no such waterways here in Whiteley woods, but like most Dragonflies and Damselflies, as soon as they can fly they leave their place of birth and find shelter in a woodland a mile or two away. This is because any already fully mature males will chase and try to mate with the young females, even though they are not capable at this stage.

Dragonflies Damselflies Beautiful Demoiselle Calopterix Virgo Teneral Immature Whiteley Woods Surrey Wildlife in England

ImageID:1220153, Image size: 3274 x 4911 pixels

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