SOME of the best times to go out into the garden to look for bugs and other creepy crawlies is during a rainy spell in summer.
This is exactly what I did on Saturday, 26 January and was not disappointed.
I found many interesting insects, including this spotted spreadwing damselfly which I have not previously seen, although they are quite widespread and common throughout much of South Africa.
This species of damselfly is commonly found near streams and ponds, however the nearest permanent water source from my house is around a kilometre away, which makes this find special for my Bluff garden.
Like all other damselflies and dragonflies, the spotted spreadwing is harmless and actually a good asset to the garden as they are carnivorous and feed on other insects, like flies. Both damselflies and dragonflies start out their lives in water, in rivers, streams and ponds, where they feed on tadpoles, small fish and other water dwelling insects. But at this stage they look nothing like their adult counterparts. The nymphs, as the babies are called, resemble shrimps, however they lack the typical shrimp-like tail. Once these nymphs have reached a certain size, which can take several months or even more than a year, they crawl out of the water, usually on a blade of grass or rock, where they shed their exoskeleton for the final time. This reveals their adult form with wings. Once they have dried in the sun, they are able to fly, hunt other insects and breed.
The physical difference between dragonflies and damselflies:
The most striking difference is generally the body shape and size. Generally, with a few exceptions, the damselfly is much smaller and more delicately built than a dragonfly. Damselflies look like a little piece of cotton flying around, whereas the dragonfly is a much bigger, heavy-bodied insect. The position of the eyes is another important distinguishing factor. Dragonflies have much larger compound eyes that seem to join together at the front of their face, whereas the damselfly has much smaller compound eyes which are clearly divided on both sides of the head. Another factor when distinguishing between the two is wing shape and how the wings lay when the insect is at rest. When settled, dragonfly wings come to rest spread outwards, while the damselfly’s wings come to rest neatly folded up above their backs. However there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as the spotted spreadwing damselfly which rests with its wings spread apart.
Contact Warren to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified.
Send him a Whatsapp or call on 072-211-0353.
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