Exuvia

An exuvia is the cast-off outer skin of an arthropod after a moult. In some species the exuvia is eaten soon after the moult although in other species it is left. In summer, it's often possible to see exuviae of dragonflies on plant stems near the water's edge. 


Having seen a freshly hatched broad-bodied chaser flying in the garden, Pete had a hunt for exuviae round our pond. He found plenty of large-red damselfly exuviae, and then came across this broad-bodied chaser which had just emerged from the exuvia to the right. At this stage dragonflies are very vulnerable, as it takes time for the chitin that forms their exoskeleton to become rigid, and they can't fly away from any predators.


It's been another long day - I woke up at 5.30am and then decided to head out and do the Bird Transect, as rain is forecast for tomorrow morning, and I'm supposed to be working for the rest of the week. Although I was somewhat reluctant, it's so beautiful in the wood at the moment, with frothy white ramsons flowers as far as the eye can see.