Blue-tailed Damselfly
Ischnura elegans
Distinctive due to being mainly dark, with a single blue band close to the end of the abdomen, on segment 8. Blue antehumeral stripes are present. The 'normal form' female colouration is sometimes replaced with lilac or orange.
It is the most common of the county's Odonatids, being adapted to a wide range of habitat types and water conditions, including being the most pollution tolerant, so on occasions will be the only species present. It is a frequent coloniser of garden ponds.
The flight period is from the end of May to September.
Nationally it is very common throughout lowland Britain.
Distribution map
Blue-tailed Damselfly (teneral)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (mating)
