Blue-tailed damselfly
The blue-tailed damselfly is a thin, dark little damselfly with a bright blue spot near the end of its tail, like a tiny light. It flutters around ponds and slow rivers. When it rests, it folds its wings together over its back.
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Fun facts
The females come in many colours: pink, violet, green, blue or brown. Their colour changes as they grow older.
Some females are coloured just like the males, so the males leave them in peace.
It is a super flier that can steer each of its four wings on its own.
Scientists found it can still fly and catch food even after losing a whole wing.
The female lays her eggs on floating bits of water plants.
Most asked questions about Blue-tailed damselfly
?What is the difference between a damselfly and a dragonfly?
A damselfly is thinner and folds its wings together over its back when it rests. A dragonfly keeps its wings spread out flat.
?Is the blue-tailed damselfly dangerous?
No. It cannot sting and does not bite people.
?What does the blue-tailed damselfly eat?
Small flying insects, which it catches in the air or picks off leaves.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Ischnura elegans
- Named by
- Vander Linden, 1820
- Group
- Dragonflies and damselflies
- Family
- Coenagrionidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Odonata > Coenagrionidae
- Lives on
- Europe, Asia
- Also known as
- Common bluetail
Where the facts come from
- Blue-tailed damselfly (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by Charles J. Sharp. CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. The round sticker of this bug is cut from the same picture.
If we got something wrong, sorry, we are bug fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
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