Male. Taken at Greenham Common, Berks, on July 18th 2015. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f14. Click image for larger version)
Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on August 9th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)
Pair in tandem. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on August 16th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f9. Click image for larger version)

Description

WS: 32 - 40mm; L: 26 - 32mm

This species is a smaller version of the Red-eyed Damselfly. The male has blue on the sides of S2-3 and S8, which is missing on the Red-eyed. There is a black X-shaped mark on the top of S10. The female is separated from the female Red-eyed by its complete antehumeral stripes.

It is found in most of Europe, and was first recorded in the British Isles in 1999.

It favours eutrophic standing water, clogged with aquatic vegetation.

Its flight period is May to September in the south, but mainly in July and August in the north. Nymphs take a year to develop.

Males typically perch on emergent vegetation.

It is locally abundant in south-east England.

Earliest UK sighting: 10th July ; Latest UK sighting: 7th September

Sightings