Invertebrates
Banded Demoiselle
Calopteryx splendens
Over a slow, sunlit river in early summer, a male banded demoiselle flutters from reed to reed, his dark-banded wings flashing against a metallic blue-green body.
Overview
The banded demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens, is a Least Concern damselfly of slow-flowing rivers and streams across Europe and into temperate Asia. Its metallic colours, banded wings, and butterfly-like flight make it one of the most eye-catching insects of lowland rivers.
A damselfly that flutters
Unlike most damselflies, which fly quickly and straight, the banded demoiselle flutters slowly between riverside plants, and males use their wing bands to signal to rivals and to females.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common where rivers stay clean and slow-flowing.
Banded Demoiselle: common questions
How can you tell a male banded demoiselle from a female?
The male has a broad dark band across each wing, while the female has greenish, see-through wings with no band.
Why does the banded demoiselle fly like a butterfly?
It flies with a slow, fluttering wingbeat, which gives it a butterfly-like look compared with most other damselflies.
Where does it lay its eggs?
Females lay their eggs in the stems of water plants, sometimes climbing below the surface to do so.
Where is the banded demoiselle found?
It lives along slow-flowing rivers and streams across Europe and into temperate Asia.