Ischnura pumilio - Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Male
Immature female (aurantiaca phase)
Description
Length: 26-31mm
The Scarce Blue-tailed is one of a number of small British Damselflies.
Typically Males have a black abdomen with green or blue sides and a small patch of blue near the tip covering segments eight and nine.
Females are either greeny-brown when mature or bright orange in the immature aurantiaca phase.
Identification can be difficult as there are often age related colour changes in this species that are not always described in the literature. More detail
Management Fact File last updated 27/01/03 See the whole Management Fact File
Habitat
I. pumilio is usually found in shallow wetland sites such as bog pools or slow flowing water, fed by seepages and flushes.
It appears to prefer early successional habitats with minimal vegetation, although some emergent plants are required at breeding sites.
A common feature of most sites is a degree of habitat disturbance, which maintains bare substrate, and the openness of the vegetation. More detail
Status and Distribution
I. pumilio is classed as nationally scarce in the British Red Data Book of Insects.
At the turn of the century it was thought to be extinct, but in recent times has shown some range expansion. More detail
In Britain it is most numerous in southwest counties of England and Wales, but there are additional sites scattered across Britain and Ireland.
Isolated colonies exist in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. More detail
Distribution map from the National Biodiversity Network Gateway (opens in new window).
Similar species
The related, much commoner, Blue-tailed Damselfly superficially resembles this species but has a different position for the tail spot.
At a glance could be confused with the two Red-eyed Damselfly species Erythromma najas and E. viridulum but are smaller, less robust looking insects and do not have red eyes.