Of Pruinosity

Didn't get out until late in the day when the light was poor so used the in-camera flash again. I know I have recently posted a damsel but this one was poised with a sloe as a backdrop. A chance for me to get a pic using flash with a pleasingly-coloured background.

Many damsels and dragons, including the scare emerald damselfly and the scarce chaser dragonfly have bodies covered with pruinescence, though not this one. It is a sort of bloom similar to that which covers grapes, plums and sloes. In some cases it has light reflective qualities and is used in sexual signalling.

It is known as pruinosity on fruit and this bloom on grapes contains natural yeasts important in wine-making. The words pruinescence and pruinosity are derived from the origins of the word plum.