white-legged damselfly
platycnemis pennipes latin

Platycnemididae are a family of damselfly called white-legged damselflies.

Dragonflies are present including the relatively scarce Hawker and White-legged Damselfly.

Eighteen species of dragonflies and damselflies have been recorded and includes the uncommon and nationally declining White-legged Damselfly.

The White-legged Damselfly or Blue Featherleg, Platycnemis pennipes, is a damselfly of slow-flowing, muddy waters.

Platycnemis acutipennis, known as the Orange Featherleg or the Orange White-legged Damselfly, is a species of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae.

There are also a great many insects, including the rare club-tailed dragonfly, banded demoiselle damselflies and white-legged damselflies, plus a range of butterflies, hoverflies and crickets.

The river is important for its dragonfly communities, with a strong population of Scarce Chaser (found in only six other areas in England), together with a strong population of White-legged Damselfly.

The White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) is also found along the river and the Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) is found between Box Hill and Leatherhead.