©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.
Species information
Statistics
Length: 3.1cmConservation status
Common.
When to see
April to SeptemberAbout
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.How to identify
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.In our area
The Blue-tailed Damselfly is common and widespread in Montgomeryshire, although encountered less in more mountainous areas.