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Common Winter Damselfly, Heeswijk-Dinther, Netherlands Although not uncommon, it&#039;s my first find of this species. It is a remarkable species as together with the Siberian winterdamsel (Sympecma paedisca), they are the only damselflies that overwinter as adults, including the occassional harsh winter in the north:<br /> <a href="https://www.dutchdragonflies.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Noordse-winterjuffer-ingesneeuwd.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://www.dutchdragonflies.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Noordse-winterjuffer-ingesneeuwd.jpg</a><br /> <br /> Their adult life span may be 10 months, which is extremely old for a dragonfly or damselfly. A typical lifespan for most species is less than 5 weeks. Common Winter Damselfly,Europe,Heeswijk-Dinther,Netherlands,Sympecma fusca,World Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Common Winter Damselfly, Heeswijk-Dinther, Netherlands

Although not uncommon, it's my first find of this species. It is a remarkable species as together with the Siberian winterdamsel (Sympecma paedisca), they are the only damselflies that overwinter as adults, including the occassional harsh winter in the north:
https://www.dutchdragonflies.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Noordse-winterjuffer-ingesneeuwd.jpg

Their adult life span may be 10 months, which is extremely old for a dragonfly or damselfly. A typical lifespan for most species is less than 5 weeks.

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  1. View Calbost Niel's profile
    Calbost Niel
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    Brilliant Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      Thanks, Niel! Posted 4 years ago
  3. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
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    Interesting info and the picture of one in the snow is insane! Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      Thanks! Strangely, I've never seen any info on how they manage to survive that. Posted 4 years ago
      1. View Christine Young's profile
        Christine Young
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        I don't know the answer for this specific species, but insects that are able to survive/tolerate the cold temperatures of winter generally employ one of two strategies: freeze avoidance or freeze tolerance. Freeze-avoidant insects generally live in cool/slightly cold climates, while freeze-tolerant insects are more likely to live in really cold climates.

        Freeze-avoidant insects supercool their bodily fluids, which means that they lower their body temperature below its freezing point without actually freezing. They do this by producing cryoprotectants, like glycerol or antifreeze proteins. Alternately, some insects using this strategy will get rid of all the food and water in their bodies so that ice can't form. Examples of freeze-avoidant insects are goldenrod gall moths (Epiblema scudderiana) and Emerald Ash Borer Beetles (Agrilus planipennis):
        Scudder's Epiblema - Epiblema scudderiana WS: ~20 mm. It rests with its wings rolled around its body in the shape of a cylinder. Host: Goldenrod. Status: Common<br /> <br /> The larvae of this species have been studied for their cold-hardiness. When the temperature drops below 5 degrees C, the larvae produce glycerol to protect themselves from freezing.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Attracted to a 395 nm light in a seni-rural area<br /> <br /> 2020(65) Epiblema,Epiblema scudderiana,Geotagged,Goldenrod Gall Moth,Scudder's Epiblema,Summer,United States,moth

        Emerald Ash Borer The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a green beetle native to Asia and Eastern Russia. Outside its native region, the emerald ash borer (also referred to as EAB) is an invasive species and is highly destructive to ash trees in its introduced range. The emerald ash borer was first discovered in America in June 2002 in Michigan. It was accidentally brought to the US in ash wood used in shipping materials. Agrilus planipennis,Emerald ash borer


        Freeze-tolerant insects can survive the formation of ice crystals in their tissues. They can control where and how their tissues freeze by initiating freezing at temperatures above their freezing point. This allows them to freeze slowly and basically choose which parts of their body to freeze (they will allow the extracellular spaces around their cells freeze, but not inside their cells). They have proteins in their bodies called ice nucleators to control this process. An example of a freeze-tolerant insect is the woolly bear caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella):
        Banded Woolly Bear Fuzzy, reddish brown caterpillar with a black anterior end. Usually, they have black posterior and anterior bands, but the colors change as they molt to successive instars, and they become more reddish brown with age. The woolly bear's setae are not urticating, so they do not usually cause irritation or injury from being handled. However, their setae may cause dermatitis in some susceptible people. <br /> <br /> According to folklore, the length, thickness, and color of a woolly bear's color bands can be used to forecast how severe the winter weather will be. This myth dates back to colonial American folklore and is still widely believed today. However, the truth is that these caterpillars can't predict the weather. In reality, a woolly bear's coloring is based on how long the caterpillar has been feeding and its age. The width of the banding is simply an indicator of that current season's growth. Woolly bears molt six times before pupating, and with each successive molt, their colors change, becoming less black and more reddish brown - this is completely independent of the weather. The last point to address in debunking this myth is the reason for the woolly bear's "coat". The thickness of its setae has nothing to do with predicting severe weather. Rather, their setae helps them to freeze more controllably, and once the caterpillars begin hibernation, their bodies create a kind of natural antifreeze called glycerol. This ability to freeze gradually helps protect them during the cold winter months. So, it would seem that woolly bears have unwittingly gained status as being weather forecasting prophets and there is no scientific evidence to prove that they are actual prognosticators of winter weather. Banded Woolly Bear,Banded woolly bear,Fall,Geotagged,Pyrrharctia isabella,United States,caterpillar,moth week 2018,woolly bear


        Amazing, right?!         Posted 4 years ago
        1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
          Ferdy Christant
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          Amazing indeed, incredible answer, thanks so much! Posted 4 years ago
          1. View Christine Young's profile
            Christine Young
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            You're welcome! Posted 4 years ago

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The Common Winter Damselfly

The Common Winter Damselfly, "Sympecma fusca", is a damselfly that is found in much of central and southern Europe. It does not have the bright blue or red colouration that is more usual for damselflies so it is often overlooked. It is one of only two species of European dragonflies that overwinter as adult insects, the other being the related "S. paedisca". It is a member of the Lestidae and related to the emeralds or spreadwings.

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Similar species: Dragonflies And Damselflies
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
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By Ferdy Christant

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Uploaded Aug 26, 2021. Captured Aug 21, 2021 14:40.
country flag of Netherlands Explore Netherlands 8,314 2,306 0
  • NIKON D850
  • f/2.0
  • 1/250s
  • ISO64
  • 50mm