The last one to disappear

Last year I already showed you an overview of the rich flowering field (see post of May 20th 2009) that I found accidentally not far from where I live. This year I went back to make some close-ups and to identify these beautiful dark purple orchids.

Here is some additional Wikipedia info: The Western Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis/Brede Orchis), also called Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid (Breedbladige Orchis), is a terrestrial European orchid. Its flowering period begins at lower elevations as early as the beginning of May and ends in higher elevations at the end of July. The Western Marsh Orchid grows in nitrogen-poor marsh areas that consist of several plant communities. The range extends in Europe from the Pyrenees to the Baltic and to the Don, possible even to the Volga. It is not found south of the Alps and is rare in southern Scandinavia. As with many marsh plants, the numbers of this species have been dwindling for quite some time. The main causes are the entry of nitrogen via fertilizer, drying out of the habitat, and intensive conversion to pasture. The Western Marsh Orchid does not react so sensitively to changes in its habitat. Therefore, it is usually the last of the native orchids to disappear. This tolerance makes it a still relatively common species.

Keeping your balance

The Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva/Bruine Korenbout) is a dragonfly species of special concern due to loss of its specific ideal habitat. The adult ♂ has a bright blue abdomen with black patches, while the adult ♀ and juvenile ♂ each have a bright orange abdomen. It is about 45 mm in length with an average wingspan of 74 mm. It is distributed throughout Europe. They live on marshes with dense, abundant vegetation. ♀♀ deposit their eggs in slow-current streams, like abandoned channels. Once deposited, the eggs lie embedded in the mud of the riverbed and the larvae develop underwater for usually two years. Adults live from May to August, during which time they mate and lay eggs.
The photos show the birth of an imago and a fresh ♂ on Wild Chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris/Fluitekruid).