Male Banded Demoiselle

Male Banded Demoiselle

Calopteryx splendens. Devon, UK.

The Banded Demoiselle is a European damselfly often found along slow-flowing streams and rivers.The male has translucent wings which each have a broad, dark iridescent blue-black spot (or band) across the outer part. On immature dragonflies the spot is dark brown. The female has translucent, pale green iridescent wings with a white patch near the tip, and a metallic green body. Females can lay up to 10 eggs per minute for 45 minutes. They lay in a wide variety of emergent or floating plants, sometimes even submerging to do so. The eggs hatch after 14 days, the larvae have very long legs, are stick-shaped and develop over two years, usually. They tolerate muddy water and overwinter buried in mud. When they are ready to moult into an adult, they climb up a suitable reed or plant and shed their skin. Males are usually territorial, but large numbers can sometimes be found in lush bankside plants and on floating objects. They court females by opening their wings and performing an aerial dance.