Strange Flying Insects.

[melv16]

The Mrs went to Haddon Hall today and saw some strange insects hovering around.
They're pretty large, straight across wings and its tail hung down as it was flying. I've looked in my insect book to no avail.

[ToraToraTora]

damsel fly?

[ToraToraTora]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Ischnura_heterosticta02.jpg

[sunny-dave]

Sounds like St Marks Fly - I'll have a look for a picture

[goodgoalie]

Can't help you, melv, but I've often wondered what these are, hovering in country lanes at this time of year. Strange long black 'tails'.

[Sam1960]

Have a rummage in here melv ......
http://www.uksafari.com/

[sunny-dave]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5653403177_5041a8edfc.jpg

[sunny-dave]

http://www.fongw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/stmarksflyR.jpg

[melv16]

Yayyy. That's the one. Thankyou for the reply, Dave.

[goodgoalie]

Spot on, dave! Thanks

[gness]

It was Dave who told me about these when we saw some on a birding outing...
Forgot about them til Melv posted so I investigated and found this...the bit that tickled me was the divided eye connection.....suss out a female and stay in the same position....
Some chaps could do with that when they stumble or trip oogling a lass in a short skirt..... :-)
https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs-and-habitats/st-marks-fly

[melv16]

http://www.uksafari.com/stmarksfly.htm
Thanks for the safari link, Sam.

[Sam1960]

You're welcome melv. I think its a great little site.

[melv16]

Only gness could get get from st marks fly to smut in one sentence :-)

[gness]

Not really smut, Melv.....just that the information reminded me of the clumsiness of some men who don't have the advantage of this fly......you must have seen them, surely..... or even done it....... :-)

[rowanwitch]

The fall over their own underwear brigade