Small Red-eyed Damselfly  Erythromma viridulum

Status | Photos | Distribution Maps Length: 29mm Wingspan: Male 38mm; Female 38mm; Hindwing 16-20mm Male: Similar to Red-eyed Damselfly though distinctly smaller, more likely to be overlooked as Blue-tailed Damselfly. Lacks spots behind the eyes which are reddish-brown. Pale brown pterostigma. Black top to thorax with thin, broken antehumeral stripes. Thorax side is blue with a 'Spur' often ending in a spot. Underside of legs are pale. Abdomen dark on top except for S1, S9- S10 and sides of S2-S3 and S8 which are blue. S10 has a black mark, rather like an X, on the top. Wing tips just reach past the join of segment 6 and 7, Red-eyed Damselflies reach into segment 8. Often holds it's abdomen slightly upcurved, Red-eyed Damselflies hold their abdomen level. Female: Lack spots behind the eyes. Pale brown pterostigma. Black top to thorax with complete antehumeral stripes. Thorax side is blue-green. Abdomen is predominantly black with a wedge of colour on S10. Behaviour : Mating occurs on floating plants or emergent vegetation, often well away from the margins, making them easily overlooked. Less partial to floating flat leaves than Red-eyed Damselfly. Whilst perched on vegetation the males often hold their abdomen slightly upcurved. Habitat: Ponds, lakes and ditches clogged with floating mats of vegetation, particularly hornworts and water-milfoils. Flight Period National: Mid June to late September though mainly July to August. Later than Red-eyed Damselfly. Yorkshire: Currently only recorded during August. Population Status: First discovered in Britain in July 1999 at three locations in Essex. Since then it has rapidly expanded its range. First records for Yorkshire where at Oak Road Lake in Hull on 8th August 2006. <Previous Species | Species Index | Next Species>

Web Author: Paul Ashton - ©  Yorkshire Branch of the British Dragonfly Society 2005-2008 including all images unless otherwise stated. http://www.yorkshiredragonflies.org.uk