Male. Taken at Cothill Fen, Oxon., on July 8th 2025. (© David Hastings)
(1/1000th sec at f/13. Click image for larger version)
Female. Taken at Parsonage Moor, Oxon., on July 8th 2025. (© David Hastings)
(1/1000th sec at f/11. Click image for larger version)
Mating pair. Taken at Cothill Fen, Oxon., on July 12th 2018. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)

Description

Wing span: 30 - 42 mm; body length: 25 - 35 mm

A very small damselfly, about 15% smaller than the Large Red Damselfly. This species is easy to identify as the male has an all-red abdomen, reddish legs and pterostigma, and no postocular spots. There are three female colour forms. The most common has a bronze-black abdomen, apart from S1-3 and S9-10 which are mostly red.

This species has a very restricted distribution in Britain, being found only in the south and south-west of England, and west Wales.

It prefers shallow, relatively warm acidic waters, occuring mainly at pools, seepages and small streams. These are usually associated with heathland bogs.

Eggs are laid in submerged vegetation, hatching after about a month. They develop over two years. The flight period is July and August.

Adults fly low and weakly, rarely moving far from breeding sites. They can be very inconspicuous.

A nationally scarce species.

Earliest UK sighting: 21st June ; Latest UK sighting: 7th August

Sightings