Shropshire Birder
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Shropshire
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Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio)
Extremely scarce in Shropshire and a very localised Damselfly nationally. I know of only one location where I found a single male and female during July 2011. This species favours mineral rich flushes which do not dry out in Summer. It has a tendency to disappear from sites after a few years. It is clearly an under-reported species as it is not at all showy unless specifically searching sites with this species in mind.
First impression of the male is that of a Blue-tailed Damselfly and the upper abdomen is similarly almost entirely black. Abdominal segment 8 (all blue in 'Blue-tailed') has much reduced blue however and segment 9 is all blue. Segment 9 has a pair of variable black marks on each flank, normally 'dots' but these can also be comma shaped (which was the case with the individual found!) Adult females have a pale green thorax which in immatures is bright orange. The colour of the flanks blends into the thorax where the broad antehumeral stripes are defined by a narrow black line. The upper surface of the mature female abdomen is black on all segments.
Male seen side on with metallic black abdomen and narrow, blue antehumeral stripes ....
Male seen from above, the blue marking on segment 8 and all of segment 9 can be clearly seen....
Closer view of the rear abdomen, the part blue colouration on segment 8 which extends to all of segment 9 with black marks on the flanks...
Typical adult female. The colour of the flanks blends into the thorax where the broad antehumeral stripes are defined by a narrow black line. The upper surface of the abdomen is black on all segments with a matt appearance towards the rear.
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