Erythromma najas - Red-eyed Damselfly
Male
Female
Pair in wheel
Pair ovipositing
Pair ovipositing, the female completely submerged
Exuvia (male, side view)
Description
Length: 35mm
A robust looking damselfly with a dark greyish abdomen and a blue "tail" in the male.
The eyes of the male are deep red and the thorax in both sexes is bronze black on top.
The female has short, yellowish ante-humeral lines.
Habitat
Found in lakes, gravel pits, canals and slow-flowing rivers.
The males often sit on water lily leaves defending their leaf from allcomers.
Status and Distribution
Locally common in southern England and the Welsh Borders.
Distribution map from the National Biodiversity Network Gateway (opens in new window).
Similar species
The similar, but smaller, Small Red-eyed Damselfly is sometimes found in the same habitat and careful observation is needed to distinguish the two species.
Could be confused with the Blue-tailed Damselflies Ischnura elegans and I. pumilio, but these are smaller less robust looking insects and do not have red eyes.