 Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans). Male. Taken at Banbury, Oxon., on July 12th 2020. Male. Taken at Banbury, Oxon., on July 12th 2020. (1/400th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans). Male. Taken at Banbury, Oxon., on July 12th 2020. Male. Taken at Banbury, Oxon., on July 12th 2020. (1/320th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans). Teneral female (f. rufescens). Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on June 16th 2023. Teneral female (f. rufescens). Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on June 16th 2023. (1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans). Teneral female (f. violacaea). Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on May 18th 2013. Teneral female (f. violacaea). Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on May 18th 2013. (1/100th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans). Teneral female (f. typica). Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on June 12th 2023. Teneral female (f. typica). Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on June 12th 2023. (1/640th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Blue-tailed Damselflies (Ischnura elegans). Mating wheel. Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on May 9th 2018. Mating wheel. Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on May 9th 2018. (1/200th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description Wingspan: 28 - 42 mm; Body length: 30 - 34 mm The Blue-tailed Damselfly is one of the commonest British species. Mature males always have a blue spot on S8, blue ante-humeral stripes on the thorax and blue eyes. The immature male has a greenish thorax. Females vary with at least 5 different colour forms. The thoracic markings and the tail spot are violet in the immature form "violacea", but salmon pink thorax and blue spot in the form "rufescens". When mature the female may be blue (like the male) in the form "typica", olive green thorax and brown spot in the form "infuscans", or pale brown thorax and brown spot in the form "infuscans-obseleta". This species can be found almost anywhere in the British Isles, with the exception of the Scottish Highlands. It can be found in a wide range of habitats, including brackish and polluted waters, although it avoids acidic and fast flowing waters. Eggs are laid into submerged plants and debris, without males in attendance. Adults emerge after one year on the south and two in the north. The main flight period is May to August. Males are terrotorial. Most adults remain close to water, often congregating in large numbers in bankside vegetation. Although not a strong flier, adults readily disperse to new locations. A common and widespread species. Sightings | 07-Sep-2023 | : | Folly Park, Faringdon, Oxon | (4) | | 16-Aug-2023 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (2) | | 25-Jul-2023 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Jul-2023 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (2) | | 12-Jul-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Jul-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Jun-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 23-Jun-2023 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (4) | | 16-Jun-2023 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (15) | | 15-Jun-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1f) | | 12-Jun-2023 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (3) | | 02-Jun-2023 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (10) | | 27-May-2023 | : | Barnwell Country Park, Northants | (1) | | 26-May-2023 | : | Barnwell Country Park, Northants | (3) | | 24-May-2023 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (2) | | 20-May-2023 | : | Cholsey Marsh, Oxon | (2) | | 16-May-2023 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (5) |
| | 15-Aug-2022 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (4) | | 09-Aug-2022 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Aug-2022 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (2) | | 29-Jul-2022 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (4) | | 22-Jul-2022 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (6) | | 16-Jul-2022 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (2) | | 08-Jul-2022 | : | Parsonage Moor, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Jun-2022 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (1) | | 24-Jun-2022 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (1) | | 20-Jun-2022 | : | Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria | | | 10-Jun-2022 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (9) | | 07-Jun-2022 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Jun-2022 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (6) | | 30-May-2022 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 09-May-2022 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (10+) |
| | 23-Aug-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Aug-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Aug-2021 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (21) | | 21-Jul-2021 | : | Banbury, Oxon | (20+) | | 12-Jul-2021 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (11+) | | 11-Jul-2021 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 08-Jul-2021 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (6) | | 05-Jul-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 30-Jun-2021 | : | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Jun-2021 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (30+) | | 24-Jun-2021 | : | Parsonage Moor, Oxon | (1) | | 23-Jun-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 15-Jun-2021 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (2) | | 07-Jun-2021 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (5) |
| | 12-Sep-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 18-Aug-2020 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (5) | | 02-Aug-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 29-Jul-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
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