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← Freshwater Invertebrates
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Wildlife in Norfolk
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Species explorer
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Freshwater Invertebrates
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Banded Demoiselle
Banded Demoiselle
Black Tailed Skimmer
Broad-bodied chaser
Brown Hawker
Common Blue Damselfly
Common Darter
Common Pond Skater
Emperor dragonfly
Four-Spotted Chaser
Great Diving Beetle
Hairy dragonfly
Large Red Damselfly
Migrant Hawker
Norfolk hawker
Pond mud snail
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Banded demoiselle at River Wensum by Richard Brunton
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Banded demoiselle at Sculthorpe Moor by Elizabeth Dack
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Banded demoiselle at Swafield by Julian Thomas
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Banded demoiselle at Sculthorpe Moor by Elizabeth Dack
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Banded demoiselle at Strumpshaw Fen by Pat Adams
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Male banded demoiselle by Elizabeth Dack
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Male banded demoiselle by Steve Hawkeye
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Banded Demoiselle
Calopteryx splendens
The banded demoiselle is mainly found along slow-flowing streams and rivers particularly those with muddy bottoms and with lush vegetation on the banks. Males compete on the wing for breeding territories near to suitable egg-laying sites. A territory owner will then court any visiting female by doing a special display flight for her. It is one of only two species of damselfly in Britain with obviously coloured wings. The other is the beautiful demoiselle, usually found in the West Country but odd sightings of this species are now being recorded in Norfolk.
Conservation status
The banded demoiselle is common and widespread across most of England, Wales and Ireland
Related questions & advice
What is the difference between dragonflies and damselflies?
The main difference is that dragonflies hold their wings open at 90 degrees to their body when resting whereas damselflies hold their wings parallel to their body. On the whole, damselflies are much smaller than dragonflies. Dragonflies have huge eyes which occupy most of their globular head whilst damselflies have much smaller eyes which are positioned at each end of their oblong head. The flight of a damselfly is a relatively weak fluttering type compared to a dragonfly’s.
Picture by Keith Redhead
Details
Did you know?
The banded demoiselle is very sensitive to pollution and is an indicator of clean water.
Females lay their eggs on the leaves of aquatic plants, trapping a layer of air in their wings to allow them to breathe. The eggs hatch in two weeks but the nymphs live under water for about two years before climbing up a plant stem to shed their skins and emerge as adults.
How to recognise
The banded demoiselle is a large damselfly. The male is metallic blue-green with broad dark blue fingerprint marks on the outer half of each wing, while the females are metallic green with greenish yellow wings. The beautiful demoiselle damselfly is similar to the banded demoiselle but the wings are dark and metallic.
This damselfly has a fluttering butterfly-like flight.
Where to see
You can find banded demoiselles near slow moving rivers, canals, ponds and lakes where there is lush vegetation. Look for them at
NWT Ranworth Broad
in the Bure Valley Living Landscape area or at
NWT Hickling Broad
in the Upper Thurne Living Landscape Area.
When to see
May to August
Find out more
British Dragonfly Society
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How to help
Banded demoiselles rely on slow moving water, particularly where the bottom is muddy, this habitat is vulnerable to development and climate change. Support Norfolk Wildlife Trusts work to protect these areas.
Gallery feed
Banded demoiselle at River Galven, Glandford on 11/06/2022. Contributed by: Bob Ward
Banded demoiselle at Acle on 21/05/2022. Contributed by: Sue Terry
Female banded demoiselle by the river Wissey at North Pickenham on 30/06/2019. Contributed by: Ian Rose
Banded demoiselle damselfly at Southrepps Commons on 30/07/2014. Contributed by: Duncan Westlake
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