Description

Small dark damselfly with a coloured tip to the abdomen.

Male: light-blue spot near the end of the abdomen (segment 8).

Female: light spot near the end of the abdomen (segment 8) but comes in at least 5 different colour forms.

 

 

Click on an image to enlarge it.

Where to See

Click here for the map
Species GroupDamselflies
Scientific NameIschnura elegans
Status & Distribution

Abundant throughout Britain.

Habitat

Found in a very wide range of lowland habitats including brackish or polluted water where it may be the only species present.

Flight PeriodBlue-tailed Damselfly
Adult Identification
  • Length: 31mm
  • Two toned pterostigma (wing spots).
  • Male: light-blue spot at the end of the abdomen (segment 8). Two blue ante-humeral stripes on top of the thorax. Blue eyes. Immature males have a green thorax that only becomes blue with age.
  • Female: light spot at the end of the abdomen (segment 8). At least 5 different colour forms: violet (violacea) which mature to be blue (typica) or olive-green with a brown abdomen spot (infuscans). Orange-pink with a blue abdomen spot (rufescens) which mature to be brown (infuscans-obseleta).
Larval Information

No spotting on the back of the head.

Caudal lamellae have no markings.

Banding on the femur (upper leg).

Similar Species

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Its bright abdomen spot is lower down on segment 9.

 

Red-eyed Damselfly

Red eyes and its bright abdomen spot is lower down on segment 9-10.

 

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Red eyes and its bright abdomen spot is lower down on segment 9-10.