Species account

Large Red Damsel (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)    (Sulzer, 1776)
   Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) [Dragonflies]    LRDA    24783
Rød Vandnymfe (dk)   Caballito de Fuego (es)   Röd Flickslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Large Red Damselfly (gb)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula minius Harris, 1780
Agrion amazon Hansemann, 1823
Agrion sanguinea Vander Linden, 1825
Agiron lincolniense Stephens, 1835
Moroagrion danielli Needham & Gyger, 1939
Pyrrhosoma nymphula interpositum Varga, 1968
Measurements:
To 33-36mm Ab 25-30mm Hw 19-24mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Males can look like females of form fulvipes. Look for black appendages and more red on the distal segments.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Mating takes place at the breeding water and last about 15 minutes. Females, in tandem, normally insert eggs into surface plant material, but at times the pair submerge. The eggs hatch after a few weeks, and the larvae live in-between water plants or bottom material and develop during 1-3 years, normally 2 years. The imago-transformation takes place near the water and low on the plants.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; only southern half of Scandinavian peninsula. Also NW Africa and eastward through Turkey and Russia to the Ural Mountains. In Denmark present in most parts except for Lolland and Falster. Also not on Amager.
Habitat:
Behavior:
It is aggressive and territorial in the larval stage which is a unique behavior, and true cannibalism is known.
Host plants:
Vandaks (Potomogeton)
Hornblad (Ceratophyllum)
other plants and dead plant material
Endemic:
Status
A widespread species in Denmark, most common in Jylland, Fyn and northeast Sjælland. Almost absent from the southern islands, and the southern part of Sjælland, though there is a tendency that it is starting to occupy these parts as well. Also increasing in the other Scandinavian countries. Observations in neighboring municipalities to København are mostly singular.
Comment:
Large Red Damsel 1230    (1 photos)
2021-06-05    Store Bøgeskov (Ringsted), Denmark

Imago Male




Large Red Damsel 1231    (1 photos)
2021-06-05    Store Bøgeskov (Ringsted), Denmark

Imago Male




Large Red Damsel 1232    (1 photos)
2021-06-05    Store Bøgeskov (Ringsted), Denmark

Imago Male




Large Red Damsel 800    (3 photos)
2022-06-18    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Male
Only black lines separating the segments indicates the sex. Only a few seen.



Large Red Damsel 1577    (1 photos)
2023-06-07    Valdemarsvik (Östergötland), Sweden

Imago Male
We only saw a few of this species on the trip.



Large Red Damsel 3162    (1 photos)
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Male
Mature.

Aberrant
Large Red Damsel 3163    (1 photos)
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Male
Mature.

Aberrant
Large Red Damsel 3196    (1 photos)
2025-06-03    Søndermarken (Frederiksberg), Denmark

Imago Male
Saved from a spiders web.

Hands on
Large Red Damsel 3197    (2 photos)
2025-06-04    Søndermarken (Frederiksberg), Denmark

Imago Male
Norske Hus.
Left wings of a dead animal lying in the vegetation.
Photo 1: forewing.
Photo 2: fore- and hindwing.

Wings
Large Red Damsel 1233    (2 photos)
2021-06-05    Store Bøgeskov (Ringsted), Denmark

Imago Female
Form: Typica.



Large Red Damsel 3124    (1 photos)
2025-04-24    Eghjorten Skovområde (Grib Skov), Denmark

Imago Female
Young. Inspired by Ib Fagerlund, I visited this spot after he had seen a single animal a week ago. My success was entirely based on 10 minutes of sun coming through an opening in the dense clouds, where the animals started to fly. This female and 3 other tenerals was the result. My first April animals.



Large Red Damsel 3161    (1 photos)
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago Female
Mature. Form fulvipes.



Large Red Damsel 2729    (4 photos)
2024-06-04    Søndermarken (Frederiksberg), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Different animals. 12 seen in all.
An unusual observation with no other populations in the urban Copenhagen area. Found by Bo Nielsen who told me a good week ago.

The habitat is a very restricted pool in the park with moist and lush surroundings and with mature deciduous forest around it. I think it is the first record from the park, why these animals very likely are the outcome of the ongoing expansion of the species which has been a fact for some years. Apparently they prefer pools and slow flowing water in mature forests which are not common in Copenhagen or on Amager, where I, nevertheless, hope to find it in Kongelunden soon!