Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on August 18th 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)
Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on August 16th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f9. Click image for larger version)
Female. Taken at Holden's Firs, Berks, on August 24th 2019. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f11. Click image for larger version)
Female. Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on May 9th 2022. (© David Hastings)
(1/1000th sec at f11. Click image for larger version)

Description

Wing span: 38 - 48 mm; body length: 30 - 36 mm

A robust-looking damselfly with a dark greyish abdomen and a blue tail in the male. The eyes of the male are deep red and the thorax in both sexes is bronze black on top. The female has short, yellowish ante-humeral lines.

This species is mainly found in the southern half of England. It is absent from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Favoured breeding sites include larger ponds, lakes, canals, main drains and sluggish rivers. All feature floating vegetation such as water lilies.

Eggs are laid while in tandem into stems and leaves of floating plants. The larvae live amongst vegetation and emerge after one, or more usually two years. Adults are on the wing from May to August, with a peak in June.

Males are often found flying low over the water, or sitting on floating leaves, where they fight for strategically important positions near open water.

A locally common species.

Earliest UK sighting: 30th April ; Latest UK sighting: 21st September

Sightings