Where to See Northern Damselfly

Latin NameCoenagrion hastulatum
Habitat

This species is restricted in the UK to sedge-fringed lochans in the Scottish Highlands.

Threats
  • Climate change; increasing temperatures and erratic rainfall threaten the species bog pool habitat.
  • Ditch installation and drainage.
  • Peat cutting.
  • Forestation of the uplands.
Status & Distribution

Listed as Endangered in the British Odonata Red List 2008.

This species is restricted in the UK to the Scottish Highlands.

Similar Species

Only two other species of blue/green and black damselflies share their range with the Northern Damselfly

Common Blue Damselfly

  • No coenagrion spur.
  • Thicker antehumeral stripes on the thorax instead of thin.
  • Male: button shaped marking instead of a spade shaped marking.

Azure Damselfly

  • Rarely in Northern Damselfly range.
  • Male: ‘U’ shaped marking instead of a spade shaped marking.
  • Females: some have blue markings. Pronotum is tri-lobed instead of having a blunt point.

 

This species is easily confused with the other members of the genus Coenagrion and with the Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum . Look at S2 (on the males) for distinguishing characters. Northern Damselfly is a weak flyer and has a very restricted range. The females can be particularly tricky to distinguish apart.

Management

Northern Damselfly Management Profile

Species GroupDamselflies
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