Damselfly

[ladylouise62]

My first thought would be a Common Blue, but the photos I've found don't have the central white line on the thorax, so I started to doubt myself. Any idea, people?

Goodness, I'm awful at trying to ID insects

My first of the season - loads just appeared and I, and the Sparrows were flying about the garden trying to catch one (ok, I was hobbling).... the Sparrows were more successful

[Chocky]

Try this.

Third one down

[ladylouise62]

Not as obvious a stripe as on mine, but definitely one there, Thanks Beryl... I thought I was going doo-lally!

[Chocky]

Yes . I think they probably vary slightly . (Could be with age with their age )

[Catherine]

Really clear and fascinating shot, Louise, - and well ID'd, Beryl!

I think that's an escallonia she's sitting on, and the spider's web at the tip of the shoot may have caught her a meal of greenfly/other.

It's just not fair that the female of each species has to 'wear' quite such dull colours. After all, with humans, females can choose to dress in more colourful/attractive garb!

[ladylouise62]

I can't confirm that, Catherine as it's something that grows through from next door every now and then, so I don't really get a good look - but I'm always impressed at your plant knowledge

[Catherine]

I just know that one because Escallonias were 'the enemy' in Ayr, Louise, and we had to dig out a whole hedge of it as it tried to take over everything.

Most other shrubs actually baffle me - but, yes, growing through from your neighbours' DOES fit the Escallonia's 'determined growing habit'!

Sadly, we never had Dragonflies or Damselflies attracted to ours!

[ladylouise62]

Yep, that sounds like the damned bush. It damages the fence as it pushes through.... and it's a fence that I am responsible for replacing But I am quite lucky in my very small garden - I do get quite a variety of creatures, although being an untidy gardener probably helps loads

For some reason I didn't spot your comment about the drab females in the natural world - yep, it's not fair, but then since it probably means that males are more likely to get eaten I think I could live with it