Share

Blue-tailed Damselfly

©Richard Burkmar

Blue-tailed damselfly

+ -
Scientific name: Ischnura elegans
The blue-tailed damselfly does, indeed, have a blue tail. It is one of our most common species and frequents gardens - try digging a wildlife pond to attract dragonflies and damselflies.

Top facts

Stats

Length: 3.1cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

April to September

About

The blue-tailed damselfly is a small, dark damselfly and one of the commonest species in the UK. It is particularly frequent around garden ponds, but can also be found near almost any waterbody and away from its breeding sites in grassland and woodland. It is on the wing from April to September. When the larvae of damselflies are ready to turn into adults, they emerge from the water and moult their larval skin, leaving behind a cast known as an 'exuviae' - look for these on emergent vegetation around the edges of waterbodies.

What to look for

The male blue-tailed damselfly is mostly black in colour, with a pale blue band towards the end of the body, blue eyes and blue on the thorax. Females are variable in colour from blue to violet. The similar, but smaller, scarce blue-tailed damselfly is a much rarer species, found around temporary ponds in the south and west.

Where to find

Widespread.

Habitats

Did you know?

Damselflies can be distinguished from dragonflies by their smaller, more delicate bodies and by the way they hold their wings when at rest: closed and folded back along the length of their body. Dragonflies keep their stiff wings open and held out at right angles to their bodies.

Watch

Blue-tailed damselfly (https://vimeo.com/573993854/66a23c39d9)

©Tom Hibbert