Beautiful Demoiselle

Distribution: Fast flowing rivers and streams throughout Wiltshire.

Identification: Similar to the Banded Demoiselle, the mature male Beautiful Demoiselle can be distinguished from the Banded Demoiselle by the fact that the 'Band' on the wing extends for the whole wing area rather than the outer half. The female is much more difficult to differentiate, but they have a brownish stripe on the dorsal midline of their last three abdominal segments, this is much paler in the banded demoiselle. If you have the opportunity to compare the females of the 2 species of Calopteryx then C. Virgo is much browner than the C Splendens female which appears greener, the colours of these metallic damselflies changes with the light so the colour cannot be used as a diagnostic feature on its own.

County Status: Widespread but never common.