Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)

The Blue Tailed Damselfly

This is perhaps one of my favourite species of damselfly. It is daintier and smaller than the other blue species but it can vary in size considerably.

It can be seen on the wing from late April or early May, through to mid / late August. They can be abundant across the whole of the United Kingdom, and can be found in a wide variety of sites from streams, rivers and ditches to large and small still waters alike. It can often be seen in the company of other blue species of damselfly and in fairly large numbers.

Relating to the male, the bright blue tail makes this damselfly readily identifiable. It is smaller than the Red Eyed Damselfly, shares the blue tail but lacks the red eye colour of its larger relative.

It could be confused with the Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly but close examination of the blue segments on the abdomens tip will reveal a very subtle difference.

The female can come in four colours. Their thoracic regions can be either violet, rose pink, a dull green or blue. The blue variety will closely resemble the male and is the most common of the colour forms.

All photography and the narrative are by Chris Brooks