Male. Taken at Waterperry Wood, Oxon., on June 22nd 2019.
(1/640th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Immature male. Taken at Bernwood Forest, Bucks, on June 23rd 2012.
(1/400th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Female. Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on May 16th 2023.
(1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

Wingspan: 58 - 72 mm; Body length: 45 - 49 mm

A large and distinctive damselfly. The male has dark cobalt blue wings with iridescent blue veins. The body is metallic blue-green. Immature males have all-brown wings. The female has transparent greenish to deep ebony wings and white pterostigma.

It is mainly found in the south and west of England and Wales, and southern Ireland. It is scarce over most of the rest of the British Isles.

The Beautiful Demoiselle is one of the few species which is restricted to running water, often acidic, with a sandy or gravelly bottom.

Females lay up to 300 eggs at a time into emergent or floating vegetation. The eggs hatch after fourteen days. The larva is stick-like with very long legs. It takes two years to develop into an adult. The flight period is May to August.

Males are territorial, perching in bankside vegetation or trees. They flick their wings open and shut, and chase passing insects, often returning to the same perch. Females live away from water unless egg-laying or seeking a mate.

A locally common species.

Sightings

25-Jul-2023	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1)
17-Jul-2023	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1m)
17-Jul-2023	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1f)
15-Jun-2023	:	Stonesfield Common, Oxon	(1m)
12-Jun-2023	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
29-May-2023	:	Fineshade Wood, Northants	(1m)
26-May-2023	:	Bucknell Wood, Northants	(5)
20-May-2023	:	Cholsey Marsh, Oxon	(1f)
16-May-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(2f)
04-Jul-2022	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1f)
01-Jul-2022	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1f)
15-Jun-2022	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(2m,1f)
07-Jun-2022	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1f)
07-Jun-2022	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1m)
27-May-2022	:	Bucknell Wood, Northants	(1m)
27-May-2022	:	Ardley Quarry, Oxon	(1f)
22-Jul-2021	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1f)
14-Jul-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1f)
11-Jul-2021	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(1f)
26-Jun-2021	:	Silchester Common, Hants	(1m)
23-Jun-2021	:	Waterperry Wood, Oxon	(1f)
15-Jun-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2f)
12-Jun-2021	:	Bernwood Meadows, Bucks	(1m)
12-Jun-2021	:	Waterperry Wood, Oxon	(1f)
03-Jun-2021	:	Ardley Quarry, Oxon	(1f)
29-Jul-2020	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1f)
22-Jun-2020	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1f)
09-Jun-2020	:	Bernwood Meadows, Bucks	(2m,1f)
09-Jun-2020	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1m)
31-May-2020	:	Waterperry Wood, Oxon	(1m,2f)
31-May-2020	:	Bernwood Meadows, Bucks	(2m)
16-Jul-2019	:	Bucknell Wood, Northants	(1f)
12-Jul-2019	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1m)
08-Jul-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1m)
04-Jul-2019	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1f)
22-Jun-2019	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1m)
22-Jun-2019	:	Waterperry Wood, Oxon	(2m,1f)
03-Jun-2019	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1m)
02-Jul-2018	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1m)
25-Jun-2018	:	Eskdale, Cumbria	(1m,1f)
24-Jun-2018	:	Wasdale, Cumbria	(2m)
18-Jun-2018	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1m)
18-Jun-2018	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1m)
01-Jul-2017	:	Bernwood Forest, Bucks	(1f)
01-Jul-2017	:	Waterperry Wood, Oxon	(1f)
18-Jun-2017	:	Waterperry Wood, Oxon	(3m)
15-Jun-2017	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1f)
06-Jun-2017	:	Plitvicka Jezera National Park, Croatia	(10+)
30-May-2017	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(3m)
27-May-2017	:	Bucknell Wood, Northants	(2m)