Photos

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

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  Male, Kempston Mill
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  Male, Kempston Back Channel
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  Male, Kempston
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  Male, Felmersham NR
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  Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
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  Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
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  Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham

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  Pair "in cop" at Felmersham NR
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  Immature male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
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  Immature male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
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  Male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
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  Immature male, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham
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  Male, Felmersham NR
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  Male, Felmersham NR

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  Female, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. This is a rufescens form
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  Female, River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. This is a rufescens form
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  Pair "in cop", River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. The female is the infuscans form
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  Pair "in cop", River Great Ouse between Kempston and Bromham. The female is the infuscans form
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  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