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Banded Demoiselle (female) - Calopteryx splendens

Banded Damselfly

 

Length: 45mm

 

Only two species of damselfly in Britain have obviously coloured wings. They both belong to the genus Calopteryx. In this species the wings of the mature male have a dark blue-black band across the central portion and those of the female are iridescent pale-green. The body colour is metallic blue-green in the male and green with a bronze tip in the female. The flight is fluttering, butterfly-like and the male often perform a fluttering display flight in front of females.

 

Mainly found along slow-flowing lowland streams and rivers, particulary those with muddy bottoms.

 

Common. Most of England (south of the Humber), Wales and Ireland.

Main flight period is early May to end August

 

Similar species The Beautiful Demoiselle (C. virgo) is the only other British damselfly with coloured wings

 

click to see them in action

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm5nM93VScw

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Uploaded on July 26, 2009
Taken on June 14, 2009