Dainty Damselfly

Dainty Damselfly was recorded from the Hadleigh area of Essex during 1946–1952, but became extinct there after the great coastal floods of early 1953. The species successfully recolonised England around 2010, in the Isle of Sheppey area of north Kent. This population has remained broadly stable but, significantly, a new site was discovered in the Sandwich Bay area of Kent during 2019.

Open but well-vegetated waters. It can tolerate some salinity.

• Length: 32mm
• Blue and black with green-yellow colouration on the underside.
• Thin antehumeral stripes on the top of the thorax.
• Long pale brown pterostigma (wing spots).
• Male: “wine-goblet” shaped marking on segment 2 below the wing base.
• Female: “rocket-shaped” markings on the abdomen.

This species is easily confused with the other members of the genus Coenagrion and with the Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum.

To separate this species look for the following features:

• Green-yellow colouring on the underside.
• Thin antehumeral stripes on the top of the thorax.
• Male: “wine-goblet” shaped marking on segment 2 below the wing base.
• Female: “rocket-shaped” markings on the abdomen.