Tag: Blue-tailed Damselfly
Ischnura elegans female infuscans form
A New Visitor To The Pond
Identifying dragonflies and damselflies can be quite challenge at times, especially as they go through their stages and can have many forms. This is a first for me, and for the garden pond. It is a Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans form rufescens) female immature. The females of this particular species actually come in five colour forms, and this is one of the five.
Garden pond, Staffordshire. England. May 2017.
Another Damsel Pays A Visit
The afternoons seem to be the time the damselflies like to visit my garden pond and hang around a little. Yesterday a red one visited, and today a blue one, or rather a light greenish-blue one. This one was another female called the Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans).
Photographs taken June 2016, rear garden pond, Staffordshire.
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Ischnura elegans
Down by the river today I came across these bright blue damselflies resting in tall grass on the river bank. All appear to be male, although the females have up to five different colour forms, and one is very much like the males. It can be a patient game photographing these up close with a macro lens as they can be fairly skittish. The good thing is they don’t always fly far if disturbed, and they do seem to get used to you after a time.
Quite a distinctive damselfly with its bright blue tail and blue stripes on the thorax. Other colour forms exist which may lead to confusion, particularly with the female. Body length 30mm. Forewing 15 to 20mm.
Pairs may spend up to six hours mating, and are commonly found in the ‘wheel’ position.
Seen may to August, and found in a wide range of habitats amongst waterside vegetation. This is one of Britain’s commonest damselflies, widespread mainly in the south.
Photographs taken June 2016, local river, Staffordshire.