Julian Cartwright has sent in some lovely photos that happen to illustrate the range of Odonate abdomen widths! These female Broad-bodied Chasers (seen on Titterstone Clee ovipositing in a wheel rut)are actually even broader than the males. They couldn’t be further from the delicate Large Red Damselflies Julian pictured on Magpie Hill. The male is guarding the female whilst ovipositing enabling him to fly her out of harms way should a predator arrive, but more likely motivated by ensuring no other males attempt to mate with her. The photo of the mating wheel shows beautifully why people often refer to it as a loveheart!
