Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

Beautiful Demoiselle

This Demoiselle is the more common of the two species and it is the first to emerge, usually two weeks or so ahead of the Banded variety, in early May and can be seen on the wing into late August.

The Beautiful variety has a fully coloured wing, compared to the band of colour in the wing of its relative.

They are identifiable from other damselflies by their larger size & by the fluttery flight, which is rather short in duration.

They are very common on streams and rivers where they breed but may also be observed on stillwater bodies.

On a sunny day in May a river bank can literally be alive with Beautiful Demoiselles. They are fond of basking on low level vegetation.