Things With Wings
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Blue-tailed Damselfly
Ischnura elegans
1 photo
·1 photographer
·Common · 1 ptsSlim damselfly; male has a blue tip to the abdomen; common at still waters.
1 community photo of Blue-tailed Damselfly on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/640ss shutter, 300mm.
Species Profile
Least Concern; widespread and increasing in range
- Lifespan
- 2–3 months as adults in the field
- Size & Weight
- 26–34 mm in length; wingspan approximately 30–36 mm
- Habitat
- Still and slow-moving freshwater bodies including ponds, lakes, ditches, and canal margins with abundant aquatic vegetation.
- UK Distribution
- Widespread throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; one of the most abundant damselfly species in the UK and a recent northerly range expander.
- Diet
- Small flying insects including mosquitoes, midges, small flies, and occasionally small moths, caught in flight.
- Prey
- Mosquitoes, midges, small flies, and small flying insects
- Predators
- Dragonflies, larger damselflies, birds (particularly flycatchers and reed warblers), spiders, and aquatic insect larvae.
- Mating Season
- May to September, peaking in June and July
- Breeding
- Females lay eggs directly into aquatic plants or submerged substrates; nymphs develop in water over 2–3 months, with one generation per year in most of the UK.
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 4 August 2026
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Camera Settings (top photos)
Shutter
1/640ss
ISO Range
400
Aperture
f/f/5.6
Focal Length
300mm
