Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but hold their wings vertically above their body when at rest. Adults of damselflies and dragonflies are found near freshwater and all species have large eyes.
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What do they look like?
The Banded Demoiselle is 42-45 mm long, with a wingspan of 60-65 mm. Banded Demoiselle males have a metallic blue-green body and the wings have a broad band of dark bluish colouring in their outer third. The females have a brilliant metallic green body and their wings are tinted green (each wing also has a tiny white spot near its tip).
(The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is similar, but its males have wings that are dark all over, not just in a central band, and its females have a brownish tinge to their wings.)
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Where do they live?
The Banded Demoiselle is found flying over rivers, streams and canals with moderate to slow flow, with beds of silt or mud, or resting on the waterside vegetation.
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Where can they be found?
The Banded Demoiselle occurs throughout much of Europe. In Britain, it is generally found in lowland areas from the south coast to Lancashire and North Yorkshire.
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When can you see them?
Adults are found flying from mid-May to September. If you see one, why not send your record to the banded demoiselle survey
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Life cycle
Mating lasts one to two minutes, after which the male will guard the female while she lays eggs on or in the leaves or stems of aquatic plants. The eggs take about two weeks to hatch, and the nymphs live underwater amongst roots or aquatic vegetation, usually for two years. When the nymphs have finished development, they crawl up the stems of aquatic plants into the air, where they shed their skin and emerge as winged adults.
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What do they do?
Banded Demoiselles have a graceful fluttering flight, similar to that of a butterfly, and are usually seen flying over freshwater or riverside vegetation.
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Did you know…?
The females have to go underwater to lay their eggs! They are able to breathe whilst submerged, thanks to a trapped layer of air between their wings. The females can lay an egg every two to six seconds. Damselflies and dragonflies look beautiful but they are predators, catching other insects in flight when they are adults, and hunting them underwater as nymphs
more info
What is a Banded Demoiselle?
The Banded Demoiselle belongs to a group of insects called Odonata (meaning toothed jaws ) that includes Dragonflies and Damselflies. Over 40 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies can be seen in Britain, and the Banded Demoiselle is one of the largest species of Damselflies in this country.
How do I recognise one?
The male shows a characteristic dark spot on each of its four wings. The male's body shines with metallic blue-green colours in the sun, and its beautiful fluttering flight is aimed at attracting females onto its guarded territory by the riverside. The female is less distinctive, lacks the wing patch, and can be confused with other species such as the female Beautiful Demoiselle.
How long do they live?
The Banded Demoiselle only lives for a week or two as an adult, but spends most of its life as a larva (or nymph) underwater. Adult females lay their eggs into the stems of water-plants. A couple of weeks later, the eggs hatch into larvae, which develop underwater over two years, amongst submerged vegetation and plant debris. When ready, the fully-grown larva will climb onto a stem or twig sticking out of the water and the dull, stick-like larva will transform into a graceful winged adult.
What sort of habitat do they need?
Banded Demoiselle larvae need the permanent slow-flowing water of rivers, streams and some canals. They also need plenty of vegetation on the water’s edge for the larvae to climb out on, and for the adults to perch on and feed around.
What do they feed on and what are their predators?
The Banded Demoiselle, like all Dragonflies and Damselflies, is a fierce predator. As larvae they will eat almost anything that is smaller than them, including mosquito larvae, bloodworms, etc, and they can fall prey to fish, water scorpions, water beetles, etc. As adults they will eat any flying insect that they can catch, such as midges, mosquitoes, flies, etc, and their predators include frogs, toads, and birds. They can also be caught in spiders' webs.
How can I see a Banded Demoiselle for myself?
If you walk by a riverside or along a canal with plenty of waterside vegetation, on a warm sunny day between May and September, you will stand a good chance of seeing this fascinating species! However, it may be more difficult to see the Banded Demoiselle in Northern England, where it is not as common. It is absent from Scotland, apart from restricted locations at the southern edge of the country.
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You should be very proud of them.
