The large size, iridescent metallic green-blue body and rather butterfly-like flight of the Demoiselle damselflies makes them instantly recognisable. The Banded Demoiselle male has a conspicuous violet-blue colour patch in the outer half of each wing. The female lacks these patches and has transparent greenish wings, with a white spot near the tip.

Prefers rather slow-flowing unpolluted rivers and streams with silty beds. The presence of emergent/overhanging waterside vegetation is important for the territorial males, which perch on strategically placed stems to intercept females flying along the watercourse. Reed Canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is often a feature of suitable sites. Males have an elaborate courtship display flight, to attract females and direct them to suitable egg-laying sites. Shaded banks are avoided and sites are usually in meadowland; sites may extend to near the tidal limits of rivers.

Emerges in late May and the flight season in Cumbria is usually over by early August. In good years numbers very locally may be spectacular and such situations may prompt dispersals. Limited in Cumbria to the lowest reaches of a few rivers discharging into the Solway Firth. On the Eden it occurs in suitable stretches from the river mouth to about 30km upstream. There were several 'extra-limital' records in 2006 (including from the R. Kent in the south and the Eamont in the north)- which might lead to founding of new colonies.

Photo: mature male - Rob Shaw

Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80004005'

[MySQL][ODBC 3.51 Driver]Can't connect to MySQL server on '217.199.164.59' (10060)

/template.asp, line 562