Quick Identification Guide

 
Welcome to my quick identification guide for the Emerald Damselfly. These graphics are meant as a guide to the key dentifying features of both the male and the female damselflies (also with the female in close up)

The text section has been kindly written and supplied by Mr Ken Crick.

The male Emerald Damselfly

The males upper surfaces of the thorax and abdomen are mainly metallic green with a bronze sheen. The eyes are pastel blue as are segments 1, 2, 8, 9 & 10 of the abdomen and the sides of the thorax. When at rest the vernacular name "spreadwing" describes the species well with its pigment free wings partially open in contrast to the closed wings of most other damselflies. The future blue areas on immature specimens are coloured buff / straw.

The female Emerald Damselfly

The female is metallic green on the upper surfaces of the thorax and abdomen; the sides and lower surfaces are straw to buff coloured. The female has no pastel blue pigmentation. Unlike the female demoiselles whose wings are suffused with colour the Emerald Damselfly has clear wings. The pterostigma may appear light in colour but never white as in the pseudo- pterostigma of the female demoiselles.