"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote in message
...

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...
((X Posted))
Noticed on our new allotment that we have an enormous number of
Damselflies
flying about and resting on the plants. Some are Large Reds (easy ID)
but
a
high proportion of others are brown with clear wings. The nearest water
is
the tiny River Bourne which runs alongside the site.
I understand Damselflies are carnivores so should I welcome them as
another
predator of aphids etc? I must admit that other than Flea Beetle there
hasn't been much insect pest about other than something nasty which
attacked
me yesterday judging by the sore red lumps on ankle and elbow. :-(

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
17mls W. of London.UK
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The imagines [adults] of these insects don't need to feed in
the conventional way. They are only designed to look for egg laying sites.
The nymph stage is a voraceous carnivore but only of what it can find in
the
water. If handled they can bite! All similar to dragonflies.
Best Wishes Brian



Regardless of whether or not they need to eat in the conventional way, adult
damselflies, like adult dragonflies are active predators of any insect
smaller than themselves. I've watched damsels and dragons hawking and
feeding many times.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/pon...ragonflies.htm