Things With Wings
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Banded Demoiselle
Calopteryx splendens
3 photos
·1 photographer
·Uncommon · 10 ptsMales have vivid blue wing patches; flutters like a butterfly.
3 community photos of Banded Demoiselle on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/640ss shutter, 300mm.
Species Profile
Nationally Scarce; listed as a UK priority species for conservation
- Lifespan
- 2–3 months as adults in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 32–39 mm in length; wingspan 50–58 mm
- Habitat
- Fast-flowing, well-oxygenated rivers and streams with abundant vegetation, typically in lowland areas with chalk or limestone geology.
- UK Distribution
- Found in southern and central England, particularly in chalk streams of Hampshire, Sussex, and the Midlands; absent from Scotland, Wales, and northern England. Present from May to September.
- Diet
- Small flying insects, particularly gnats, midges, and small flies caught in aerial pursuit.
- Prey
- Gnats, midges, small flies, and other small aerial insects
- Predators
- Dragonflies, robber flies, spiders, and insectivorous birds such as reed warblers and flycatchers
- Mating Season
- May to September, with peak activity June to August
- Breeding
- Females lay eggs singly into fast-flowing water; nymphs take 1–2 years to develop through multiple instars before emerging as adults
Sources and editorial status
The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.
Profile generated 22 June 2026
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Camera Settings (top photos)
Shutter
1/640ss
ISO Range
400–1600
Aperture
f/f/5.6
Focal Length
300mm
