- Lifespan
- approximately 2–3 months as adults in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 32–35 mm body length; wingspan 40–50 mm
- Habitat
- Clear, unpolluted freshwater bodies including ponds, ditches, canals, and slow-flowing streams with abundant aquatic vegetation.
- UK Distribution
- Widespread throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; resident species with adults active from May to September, with numbers peaking in midsummer.
- Diet
- Small flying insects including mosquitoes, gnats, small flies, and other aerial prey; nymphs feed on aquatic invertebrates.
- Prey
- Small flying insects such as Diptera; aquatic invertebrates and tadpoles (nymphs)
- Predators
- Dragonflies, birds (particularly reed warblers and great crested grebes), fish, and aquatic insects such as diving beetles and water boatmen
- Mating Season
- May to August
- Breeding
- Females lay eggs in tandem with males; eggs are laid into aquatic plants or substrate. Nymphs develop over 1–2 years underwater, with multiple generations possible depending on water temperature.
- Behaviour
- Azure Damselflies are weak fliers typically found hovering near water margins. Males are highly territorial and patrol breeding sites repeatedly. They exhibit tandem flight during mating, with pairs remaining coupled while females oviposit.