Red-eyed Damselfly
Erythromma najas
Local
Superficially like the much more common Blue-tailed Damselfly, males can be easily distinguished because of their red eyes, the blue abdominal tip is right at the end of the body and it has no antehumeral stripes. The female has no blue abdominal tip and the eyes are dull red. It has a robust appearance for a damselfly and is a powerful flyer. The males in particular habitually sit on floating pondweeds and water-lillies.
It is a rare insect in the county, being only found at two sites in the Lincoln area, parts of the Grantham Canal, Deeping pits, Baston Fen, Crowland, Bourne Woods, Revesby and Crowle. It can be found on the wing from mid-May to August. Nationally it is only common in the south-east and midland counties, and is rarely seen outside this area.
Recognised in the Lincolnshire Trust's Biodiversity Strategy report as a county endangered species.
Distribution map
