Natural England

Natural England

Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

The Plant Press

© 2006-2008. Database provided and managed on behalf of Natural England by The Plant Press. Designed and implemented by Ideal Integration Ltd

 

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Blue-tailed damselfly - Ischnura elegans - Family: Coenagriidae

Blue-tailed damselfly - Ischnura elegansBlue-tailed damselfly - Ischnura elegans
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

A small, largely black damselfly, this species has a blue band just before the tip of the abdomen. However, the female has a confusing variety of colour forms; it may have a similar colour pattern to the male or be largely brown, orange, violet, green or even black. Adults fly from late May to early September. It is found in almost any type of still water, and can tolerate a degree of pollution. The blue-tailed damselfly is likely to colonise a new garden pond very quickly. The larvae crawl around on aquatic vegetation, climbing a short way up emerging vegetation to change into adults.

Food

Predatory - adults on small flying insects, larvae on small aquatic invertebrates.

Plants

Lesser spearwort

Prey

Mosquitoes and midges, Water invertebrates

Predators

Moorhen, Spotted flycatcher