The following note is offered in the hope that it will provide inspiration to club
members to get out and about, especially in the East Kilbride area, and look for
interesting wildlife photo opportunities. Remember too, that pictures, if taken in the
South Lanarkshire region, will be eligible for entry in the South Lanarkshire Photo
Competition which closes in September. Application forms for the competition should be
available at public libraries throughout the region
If you’re lucky you might get some dragonfly / damselfly pictures at Langlands
Moss. Walk out onto the boardwalk until you reach the main drainage channel that cuts
through the middle of the Moss. If you walk carefully down towards the road (i.e. due
south) beside the drainage channel, there is a good chance of finding something of
interest there. When you reach the road, there is a small pond across the road in the
corner of the golf course that might be of interest. Basically aim for anything that looks
like a pool of water.
Further afield, the RSPB Reserve and Castle Semple Loch at Lochwinnoch are other good
spots if you catch it right on a sunny day.
The greater part of a damselfly or dragonfly like cycle is aquatic. At this time of
year, especially on sunny days, these insects will be mating and laying their eggs into
the water to start the life cycle all over again. The aquatic stage of the life cycle
might complete itself in a year, but at these cooler latitudes it could easily take a
further year or two.
All the different species have a slightly different strategy for egg laying. Some
simply drop their eggs into the water as they fly over, while others will dip the end of
their abdomens actually into the water as the fly along, depositing an egg below the
surface on each occasion. Other species, usually the weaker flying damselflies, will often
land on the vegetation and crawl down into the water before laying their eggs - and some
of the species even insert their eggs into submerged vegetation.
Another thing to remember is that different species will prefer different types of
water. The large Golden Ringed Dragonfly lays eggs in upland burns, whereas other species
will choose lowland ponds, some preferring acidic water and some preferring alkaline water
- and so it goes on.
True dragonflies usually fly about as individual insects, and they can be very
territorial. They settle with their wings at right-angles to the body. The weaker flying
damselflies, although all part of the Odonata group, are like colourful flying matchsticks
- and when settled their wings are folded along the body. When mating and egg laying the
damselflies usually fly along coupled together in pairs with the male clasping the female
by the back of the neck.
All of this group catch and eat flying insects. Very often the darter dragonflies
will return time and again to the same perch. With a bit of patience you can focus on
their perch and await their return.
