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What is a Damselfly?

Answer: Damselflies are insects in the sub-order Zygoptera (meaning "paired-wings"). All four wings are near enough equal in size and shape. They are usually small, weakly flying insects that stay close to the water margins or water surface. When at rest, most species hold their wings along the length of their abdomen. The Emerald Damselflies are an exception and usually hold their wings partly open when at rest. They are therefore known as Spreadwings in North America. The eyes are always separated, never touching. The larvae have external plates (lamellae) at the end of the abdomen, which act as accessory gills.

Dragonfly diagram photo

Species in the United Kingdom:

In Great Britain and Ireland there are over 20 species that may be encountered and a few that are now extinct. These species fall into 4 families and 9 genera. A listing of these damselflies is shown below, arranged alphabetically by scientific name. Click on the common name to see details of each species.

Male Banded Demoiselle by David Kitching

Calopteryx splendens

Banded Demoiselle
Male Beautiful Demoiselle by Tim Melling

Calopteryx virgo

Beautiful Demoiselle
Male Small Red Damselfly by Antonio Goncalves

Ceriagrion tenellum

Small Red Damselfly
Female Wilow Emerald Damselfly by Val Perrin

Chalcolestest viridis

Willow Emerald Damselfly
Male Northern Damselfly by Damian Pinguey

Coenagrion hastulatum

Northern Damselfly
Female Southern Damselfly by Martin Parr

Coenagrion mercuriale

Southern Damselfly
Female Azure Damselfly by David Kitching

Coenagrion puella

Azure Damselfly
Male Variable Damselfly by David Kitching

coenagrion pulchellum

Variable Damselfly
Male Dainty Damselfly by John Reinecke

Coenagrion scitulum

Dainty Damselfly
Male Common Blue Damselfly by David Kitching

Enallagma cyathigerum

Common Blue Damselfly
Male Red-eyed Damselfly by David Kitching

Erythromma najas

Red-eyed Damselfly
Male Small Red-eyed Damselfly by Pam Taylor

Erythromma viridulum

Small Red-eyed Damselfly
Female Blue-tailed Damselfly by David Kitching

Ischnura elegans

Blue-tailed Damselfly
Male Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly by Frederic Barszezak

Ischnura pumilio

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Female Southern Emerald Damselfly by Antonio

Lestes barbarus

Southern Emerald Damselfly
Scarce Emerald Damselfly Photo

Lestes dryas

Scarce Emerald Damselfly
Female Emerald Damselfly by David Kitching

Lestes sponsa

Emerald Damselfly
Male White-legged Damselfly by Dave Mitchell

Platycnemis pennipes

White-legged Damselfly
Female Large Red Damselfly by David Kitching

Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Large Red Damselfly
Male Winter Damselfly by Antonio Goncalves

Sympecma fusca

Winter Damselfly