BLUE-TAILED DAMSEL
The blue-tailed damsel or common bluetail, is a small damselfly reaching 27 to 35mm in length and having a 14 to 20mm hindwing. Adult males have a blue and black patterned head and thorax. Their abdomens are mainly black with a pale, narrow band at the segment joints. The 8th segment is blue. The female's thorax comes in a variety of colours, including, salmon pink, blue, violet and pale green. These colours darken as she matures. The abdomen is dark with the 8th segment being blue.
Blue-tailed damsels can be found in a wide range of habitats, including standing and slow flowing waters and even brackish (slightly salty) water. The adults fly from April to October. They use their long legs like a basket and scoop up small flying insects on the wing. Eggs are laid on floating vegetation after mating, which can go on for many hours! Along with the lengthy copulation, the adult's lifespan is only a few weeks, (probably tired).
