Banded Demoiselle
Flight period: May to August.
The Banded Demoiselle is a large metallic damselfly with fluttering, butterfly-like wings. Males have a metallic blue body with broad dark blue-black spots across the outer parts of the wings. Females have a metallic green body with translucent pale green wings.
The Banded Demoiselle’s name is derived from the distinctive “fingerprint” mark on the wings of the males. Of the UK's damselflies, only the Banded Demoiselle and the similar Beautiful Demoiselle have coloured wings. The latter differs by displaying almost entirely dark, metallic wings.
The Banded Demoiselle is mainly found amongst lush, damp vegetation along the edges of slow-flowing lowland streams rivers and canals and around still ponds and lakes. Males are very territorial and perform fluttering display flights to win over females.
The Banded Demoiselle is common in Wales and most of England apart from in the north. However, its range is expanding. The species was first recorded from Scotland in 2002 and it has now spread along the east coast and west coast in southern Scotland.
Date: 13th June 2022
Location: Cowles Drove near RSPB Lakenheath Fen, Norfolk
The Banded Demoiselle is a large metallic damselfly with fluttering, butterfly-like wings. Males have a metallic blue body with broad dark blue-black spots across the outer parts of the wings. Females have a metallic green body with translucent pale green wings.
The Banded Demoiselle’s name is derived from the distinctive “fingerprint” mark on the wings of the males. Of the UK's damselflies, only the Banded Demoiselle and the similar Beautiful Demoiselle have coloured wings. The latter differs by displaying almost entirely dark, metallic wings.
The Banded Demoiselle is mainly found amongst lush, damp vegetation along the edges of slow-flowing lowland streams rivers and canals and around still ponds and lakes. Males are very territorial and perform fluttering display flights to win over females.
The Banded Demoiselle is common in Wales and most of England apart from in the north. However, its range is expanding. The species was first recorded from Scotland in 2002 and it has now spread along the east coast and west coast in southern Scotland.
Date: 13th June 2022
Location: Cowles Drove near RSPB Lakenheath Fen, Norfolk
|
Also in: Dragonflies and damselflies
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |