Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans

Photos

Various stages of Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans development, immature males, the different female forms, and pairs in cop are all shown.

  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans: CRW 2825
    Male, Kempston Mill
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans: CRW 3427
    Male, Kempston Back Channel
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P1608
    Male, Kempston
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2013
    Male, Felmersham NR
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2037
    Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2038
    Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2041
    Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2282
    Pair "in cop" at Felmersham NR
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2287
    Immature male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2288
    Immature male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2314
    Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2318
    Immature male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2360
    Male, Felmersham NR
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2362
    Male, Felmersham NR
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2421
    Female, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. This is a rufescens form
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2422
    Female, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. This is a rufescens form
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2491
    Pair "in cop", River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. The female is the infuscans form
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P2492
    Pair "in cop", River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. The female is the infuscans form
  • Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans:  A3P3909
    Andromorphic Female, Felmersham NR. This particular female has an infestation of mites, not uncommon amongst damselflies.
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Main features

Abundant damselfly - the most common in Bedfordshire, the distinctive blue tipped black abdomen makes this easy to spot.

Females have several different colour forms, according to both age and genetics. This can make them difficult to fully identify, but the blue tail is present in all but one form rufescens-obsoleta (I've not photographed one yet)

Habitat

Found almost anywhere where there is water, common around most rivers and ponds etc.

Where to see

Virtually anywhere.

Seen between early May and late September