Small red damselfly
The small red damselfly is a New Forest speciality and the New Forest is its national stronghold. It is found throughout the New Forest, but only in a few other places in UK, such as Dorset, the Surrey heaths, Cornwall and west Wales. It is restricted to these areas because it is very choosy about its habitat.
The small red damselfly needs small, sunny, unshaded, shallow waters, such as acid bogs or pools with lots of plant life. The larvae need high water temperatures to develop and they are not very good at competing with other species. Tiny pools and even wheel ruts on heaths suit them well. To see this species you need to visit the boggier areas of the New Forest such as Latchmere Brook, near Frogham, or Crockford Stream, near Beaulieu. Choose a sunny day with little wind from June to late August.
Although a small and rare species, numbers in the New Forest can be quite high. Up to 500 were reported along a section of disused railway line near Burley in July 1993.
Photo credit: Howard Simmons
