Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)Slide Show

As its name suggests this Demoiselle is a stunningly handsome damselfly. Its colour is unsurpassed in the Odonata world in my opinion. The Beautiful variety is usually the first on the wing of the two UK Demoiselle species, appearing from late April in the recent mild springs right through to late August.

This is considered a species of streams and rivers; however it can also be seen on canals and even ponds and lakes if adjacent to flowing water.

The males are easily distinguishable from the striking Banded Demoiselle by their fully coloured wings. Their abdomens and thorax are a stunning metallic blue / green. Early male specimens are somewhat paler with brown eyes and wings. However they soon darken up, both becoming near black in colour when fully mature.

The females are very much harder to tell apart. The Beautiful Demoiselle's wings are bronze in colour, the body being green which turns bronze with age. The female Banded Demoiselle is of an overall greener appearance.

The females are best identified in the presence of the male of the species, to avoid confusion.