Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on August 18th 2020.
(1/400th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Male. Taken at Barnwell CP, Northants, on May 27th 2023.
(1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Female. Taken at Holden's Firs, Berks, on August 24th 2019.
(1/400th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Female. Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on May 19th 2018.
(1/320th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

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.

Sightings

07-Sep-2023	:	Folly Park, Faringdon, Oxon	(1)
16-Aug-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(1)
23-Jun-2023	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(6)
16-Jun-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(6)
02-Jun-2023	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(10)
27-May-2023	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(5)
26-May-2023	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(13)
24-May-2023	:	Chimney Meadows, Oxon	(1)
16-May-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(2)
04-Aug-2022	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(5)
10-Jun-2022	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(9)
02-Jun-2022	:	Chimney Meadows, Oxon	(9)
09-May-2022	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(10+)
12-Jul-2021	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(5+)
08-Jul-2021	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(3)
25-Jun-2021	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(20+)
13-Jun-2021	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(20+)
21-Sep-2020	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(2m,1f)
01-Sep-2020	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(12+)
22-Aug-2020	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(8+)
18-Aug-2020	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(30+)
20-Jun-2020	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(10+)
07-Jun-2020	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(4)
02-Jun-2020	:	Culham, Oxon	(2)
30-May-2020	:	Goring, Oxon	(34)
29-May-2020	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(40+)
25-May-2020	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(10+)
24-Aug-2019	:	Mortimer, Berks	(1)
24-Aug-2019	:	Crookham Common, Berks	(1)
11-Aug-2019	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(2)
11-Jul-2019	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(10)
18-Jun-2019	:	Abingdon, Oxon	(2)
18-Jun-2019	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(6+)
18-Jun-2019	:	Barton Fields, Abingdon, Oxon	(2)
09-Jun-2019	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(3)
02-Jun-2019	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(10)
02-Jun-2019	:	Abingdon, Oxon	(7)
25-Aug-2018	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(1f)
05-Aug-2018	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(4)
17-Jul-2018	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(14+)
10-Jul-2018	:	Crookham Common, Berks	(6)
21-Jun-2018	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(10)
10-Jun-2018	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(10+)
08-Jun-2018	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(10+)
06-Jun-2018	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
02-Jun-2018	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(3)
02-Jun-2018	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(5)
18-May-2018	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(1)
14-Jun-2017	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(2)
03-Jun-2017	:	Abingdon, Oxon	(8)