Banded Demoiselle

The Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) is one of the most beautiful damselflies in Norfolk. It can be seen on every river in Norfolk, wherever there are patches of emergent and floating vegetation.

Photo:A Brazil

Identification

Until recently this was an easy species to identify in Norfolk as the similar species, the Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), had not been recorded in Norfolk for 30 years. However, 2006 brought reports of the Beautiful from four seperate locations in Norfolk, and it seems likely these were continental vagrants. More care is therefore needed in identifying this insect then has been thought necessary in the past

The male has a metallic dark blue body and bright purple-brown wing markings which cover the middle half of the wings. (The beautiful has a lighter blue body with the markings covering the whole of the wing. Females have bright green metallic bodies and green wings - Beautiful's have a smoky brown wing colouring, but great care is needed to distinquish between them.

Photo:A Brazil

This is a river dragonfly which requires moving water to breed. Nevertheless it does occassionally wander away to feed and can sometimes be found in gardens, ponds and fields near to rivers - but rarely further than half a mile.