..and chaos ensues! Stephen Barlow has sent in these images of White-faced Darters from Whixall Moss. The image left shows a male attempting to drag another male away from the female (far left in the picture). Stephen reports that delayed maturing of these dragonflies suddenly being accelerated with this mini heatwave has brought about frenzied competitive behaviour! Stephen saw 5 males competing for a solitary female at one point with resulting chaos as a ball of dragonflies tumbled around with males grabbing males and general confusion!
Stephen has also sent a textbook pair of copulating White-faced Darters and a beautiful shot of the white-face of a male (below right). Stephen also reports the first Emerald Damselflies are emerging at Whixall Moss.
