Description

Large metallic damselfly with fluttering, butterfly-like wings.

Male: metallic blue body with broad dark blue-black spots across outer parts of wings.

Female: metallic green body with translucent pale green wings.

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Species GroupDamselflies
Scientific NameCalopteryx splendens
Status & Distribution

Common in Wales and most of England apart from in the north; however, its range is expanding. The species was first recorded from Scotland in 2002; it has now spread along the east coast and west coast in southern Scotland.

Habitat

Mainly found along slow-flowing lowland streams and rivers, particularly those with muddy bottoms.

Flight PeriodBanded Demoiselle
Adult Identification
  • Length: 45mm
  • Male: metallic blue body with broad dark blue-black spot across outer part of wing.
  • Female: metallic green body with translucent pale green wings.
Larval Information

Demoiselle larvae have long bodies, short spikey caudal llamellae and long ‘horn-like’ antennae.

No obvious occupital tooth sticking out from behind the eyes.

Two pale bands on the caudal llamellae.

Only Beautiful Demoiselle are similar in appearance.

 

Threats
  • Pollution.
  • Over-shading from tree growth.
  • Intensive dredging.
  • Removal of aquatic and bankside vegetation.
  • Over abstraction.

 

Management
  • Control sources of pollution run off.
  • Manage bankside tree growth.
Similar Species

The Beautiful Demoiselle is the only other British damselfly with coloured wings but the males have fully coloured wings and the females have brown-tinged wings.

Beware! Internet searches tends to find related American species such as the Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata), also known as the Black-winged Damselfly, but such species do not occur in Europe and have never been known to cross the Atlantic.

Similar Species