# Large Red Damselfly (*Pyrrhosoma nymphula*) The Large Red Damselfly is a beautiful insect with bright red and black colors. It loves to flutter around near water, showing off its delicate wings in the sunshine. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Large Red Damselfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Large_red_damselfly_%28Pyrrhosoma_nymphula%29_male_Dry_Sandford.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Large_red_damselfly_%28Pyrrhosoma_nymphula%29_male_Dry_Sandford.jpg) ## Appearance The Large Red Damselfly is a striking insect with a bright, fiery red body, especially on its abdomen, which features subtle black markings. It has four delicate, clear wings that are often tinged with amber near their base, and its prominent eyes are a reddish-brown hue. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Pyrrhosoma ## Interesting facts - Baby damselflies live underwater for up to two years! - Large Red Damselflies perform a unique 'mating wheel' shape! - Their clear wings can beat over 30 times a second! - They spend almost their whole adult life looking for food. ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Large Red Damselflies have huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects in many directions at once. - **Mid-air Snatcher:** Large Red Damselflies can quickly grab small flying insects with their spiky legs, helping them secure a meal during flight. - **Underwater Gills:** Young Large Red Damselflies (nymphs) have external, feathery gills at their tail, which helps them breathe underwater. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-50 mm - **Size:** 33-36 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-21 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These hungry hunters gobble up tiny flying insects like gnats and midges! - **Age differences:** Larvae (nymphs) eat tiny aquatic insects and crustaceans; adults eat flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Gnats, Midges, Mosquitoes, Small flies, Aphids - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — a common tiny fly caught for food - **Eaten by:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — a quick meal for hungry amphibians - **Eaten by:** [Emperor Dragonfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/emperor-dragonfly) (*Anax imperator*) — larger predatory dragonflies occasionally hunt them - **Eaten by:** [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) — their larvae provide food for fish ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Damselflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Large Red Damselfly? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Large Red Damselfly's wingspan? 45-50 mm ### How big is Large Red Damselfly? 33-36 mm ### How long does Large Red Damselfly live? 14-21 days ### How fast can Large Red Damselfly fly? 15 km/h ### What does Large Red Damselfly eat? These hungry hunters gobble up tiny flying insects like gnats and midges! ### Where is Large Red Damselfly usually found? Wetlands ### How does Large Red Damselfly hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Bavarian Forest Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bavarian-forest-nature-park) — Bayern, DE · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Large Red Damselfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-red-damselfly)