- Lifespan
- 1 year (including aquatic nymph stage of 1–2 years)
- Size & Weight
- 32–36 mm in length; wingspan approximately 40–48 mm
- Habitat
- Fast-flowing and slow-flowing streams, rivers, ditches, and well-oxygenated ponds with aquatic vegetation.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout England, Wales, and Scotland; common and widespread across most of the UK, with populations present year-round as resident species.
- Diet
- Aquatic nymphs are carnivorous, feeding on small aquatic invertebrates; adults are aerial insectivores consuming small flying insects such as gnats, flies, and midges.
- Prey
- Small aquatic invertebrates (nymphs); small flying insects including gnats, flies, and midges (adults)
- Predators
- Dragonflies, larger fish, herons, and insectivorous birds such as flycatchers and warblers
- Mating Season
- May to September, with peak activity June to August
- Breeding
- Females lay eggs directly into or near water bodies; nymphs develop over 1–2 years in aquatic environments; single generation per year in most of the UK
- Behaviour
- Males are highly territorial and perch on emergent vegetation along waterbodies, patrolling and defending their territory from rival males. They are among the earliest damselflies to emerge in spring. Mating pairs form in tandem, with the male holding the female by the thorax during copulation.