Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Large Red Damsel) is almost endemic to Europe, with only a few sites in Morocco and south-west Asia. It’s common and widespread throughout most of Europe but less so in the Balkans and pretty much absent from Russia.
In The Netherlands, Large Red Damsels are often the first species to emerge in spring.
Confusion with Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) is possible but Large Red Damsel’s legs are black as opposed to red in Small Red Damsel. In southern Albania and Greece, Large Red Damsels can be confused with the extremely rare Greek Red Damsel (Pyrrhosoma elisabethae) which differs from Large Red Damsel only in minute details only visible from close-up photos or with a magnifying glass.
in and around Europe
