Failed emergence

[Erland R.N.]

The dragonfly season has started in Denmark, and that is very early indeed. Normally they appear in the start of May, if the weather is good, but I have allready seen six species.

The species that appeared first was Pyrrhosoma nymphula, a beatiful red damselfly. I found one today that had failed to emerge, as the head was stuck in the larvae skin. The emergence had continued somewhat, with expansion of the eyes, wings, abdomen and thorax. In the second picture the eyes are seen trapped inside the larvae skin (exuvia).
A small spider or mite is seen in the abdomen of the exuvia.


5D, Sigma 180, 1,4 converter, f/13, 1/160 sec, iso 1600, slightly cropped


5D, Sigma 180, 1,4 converter, f/11, 1/100 sec, iso 800, slightly cropped

Hope you like them.
Erland

[Mike B in OKlahoma]

Hi Erland!

I've never seen this. A unique, but very sad find, well-captured.

[Ken Ramos]

Very dramatic, love the colors and details in the first image Erland, of course the second is quite good also but a little hot on the head of the nymphal casing and that looks to be more of a tiny spider than a mite. Well done and excellent capture of nature in action and/or failure...?

[salden]

Looks like he is equipped with his personal backpack . An interesting subject and one that I have never seen before.

[beetleman]

What a way to go...to die in your own skin. I wonder if the spider had anything to do with it. The DF still looks very fresh . Excellent photos Erland.

[Erland R.N.]

Thank you all for comments.
The emergence is a risky buisness for dragonflies and damselflies, and many will not live through it. Rain and strong winds and predators are the biggest factors. In this situation I think the damselfly simply failed due to some internal failures. It might as well have been the wings stuck, and not the eyes. I think the spider appeared after the accident happened.

Erland

[MacroLuv]

Very nice finding Erland!
I saw only empty lavrae shells on my hikings.