Chalcolestes viridis has now reached CRT land in Cambridgeshire. Known as the willow emerald Damselfly this species is only consider a recent colonist of the UK with numbers increasing in the south east of the country. Despite being sporadically seen in the UK record back in the twentieth century, it is suggested that it probably first bred in 2009, in southeast Suffolk and a few outlying records of sites in southeast Norfolk and north Essex. In 2010, growing number of sightings was record in these regions as well as south Essex and north Kent. Records of this species has continued to rise in the south east. In 2020, it has now reached CRT land. I first officially recorded today, 14th Aug, on Westfield. This species has a habit of spending a lot of time in trees that overhang ponds as the eggs are laid into the barker of willow or alder. It is similar to other emerald damselfly so could easily be confused. The easiest way to identify is the pale pterostigma, the almost white wing spots on the top edge of their wings along with a Green spur on the side of the thorax and no hints of blue coloration. Dr Vince LeaHead of Wildlife Monitoring Support our monitoring team with a donation Please select a donation amount (required) £100 Helps with the cost of providing habitats for a range of farmland wildlife. £50 Allows our conservation team to spend an afternoon monitoring the success of the CRT community’s activities. £20 Provides our volunteers with resources to complete essential conservation tasks. Other Donate Manage Cookie Preferences