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Blue-tailed Damselfly

Ischnura elegans

1 photo

1 photographer

·Common · 1 pts

Slim 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.

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.
Behaviour: Highly territorial and agile fliers that perch frequently with wings half-open. Males engage in fierce aerial combats over territory and females. Both sexes exhibit colour polymorphism, with females showing multiple colour forms (green, blue, or orange morphs).

Did You Know?

•The blue tail from which it derives its name is found only in males; females lack this feature entirely.
•It is one of very few UK damselfly species with distinct female colour polymorphism, making females of this species particularly variable in appearance.
•Ischnura elegans has expanded its range northward in recent decades, likely in response to climate change, and is now regularly recorded as far north as central Scotland.
•Pairs remain coupled during egg-laying, with males guarding females to prevent rival males from mating.
•The species is highly adaptable to artificial habitats such as newly created ponds and urban water bodies.

Easily Confused With

Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) — Males are entirely bright red with no blue colouration; Small Red Damselflies also prefer acidic heathland pools rather than general freshwater habitats.
Common Coenagrion (Coenagrion puella) — Coenagrion species are generally stouter and have a distinctive black 'U' or 'mushroom' mark on the second abdominal segment, whereas Blue-tailed Damselflies lack this marking.

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Shutter

1/640ss

ISO Range

400

Aperture

f/f/5.6

Focal Length

300mm

🐛 Blue-tailed Damselfly

Insect