A newly emerged Downy Emerald dragonfly sits on an old reed, its body and wings expand and harden before taking its first flight

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A newly emerged Downy Emerald dragonfly, just minutes after emerging from its exuvia climbs up the stem of an old reed and expands its body and wings. The wings are fully expanded and the body is almost fully expanded. It is now drying and hardening off in the spring sunshine.

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Size: 3168px × 4752px
Location: Lower Moor Farm, Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire, UK
Photo credit: © Chris Beard Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aenea, brown, cordulia, cotswold, downy, dragonfly, emerald, emerged, farm, green, immature, insect, moor, nature, newly, odonata, park, teneral, uk, water, wildlife, wiltshire, wings