The beautiful demoiselle
By Charlotte Owen
WildCall Officer
Easily mistaken at first glance for a fluttering butterfly, the beautiful demoiselle is now on the wing. The word ‘beautiful’ is part of this exotic-looking damselfly’s official scientific name, rather than a mere description, and it’s very well deserved.You’ll know when you’ve seen one because it’s the only damselfly species with completely coloured wings - the closest contender being the banded demoiselle, which is also aptly named for the deep blue-banded wings of the males, as if they’ve been dabbed with a giant black marker pen. These two species both belong to the family Calopterygidae and are termed demoiselles (from the French for damsel) to distinguish them from the rest of the damselflies.
Male beautiful demoiselles are metallic blue-green with strikingly dark wings that appear almost black until the light catches them and reveals an iridescent blue sheen. Their flight is languid and twirling and their broad wings are easily buffeted by a breeze, so they prefer the shelter of well-vegetated riverbanks.Males tend to perch on a stem, wings held together along the body, lying in wait for a passing female.Her wings are a lustrous bronze and the metallic green of her body has a glimmering golden sheen.Females range up and down river in search of suitable egg-laying sites, so males establish themselves in prime locations and wait. As soon as a female enters a male’s territory he will court her with a fluttering dance and curl up his abdomen to display the bright underside of the last three segments, known as the ‘lantern’. Then he’ll take her for a tour of his chosen nursery site and if she’s suitably impressed the pair will mate, locked in a vaguely heart-shaped embrace for up to five minutes. Afterwards, they’ll flutter back to the water and he’ll fend off rival males while she deposits her eggs on aquatic plants, happily submerging herself in the process. The eggs take just two weeks to hatch but the stick-like larvae then spend two years underwater before emerging into the light and transforming into glorious adults.
Comments
Saw a beautiful male on Fingle Bridge in Devon on a quintessential summer day. Gorgeous!
07 Jul 2017 17:32:22
I have just spent a happy hour watching a male in my small garden in Rye. They are unusual here, as the water is low lying and pretty slow.
12 Aug 2017 13:07:32
Had one of this over my pond in North Lancing (BN15) today….first time I’ve seen one of these. (28/5/18)
28 May 2018 13:27:40
Saw one today at the school! Harlands School Haywards Heath, we have a small stream running through the grounds so I guess this is where it came from. Never seen one before – SO BEAUTIFUL, the children in my Y4 class were transfixed! Thanks for posting this article; I wondered what it was and told the children that I would try to find out.
21 Jun 2018 20:25:57
I have just seen my first Beautiful Demoiselle on a stream in West Ashling. There were two of them doing a dance above the water. So pleased to have identified them. I have lived in West Sussex all my life and never seen one before.
07 Jul 2019 14:09:00
Two males and one female seen on bank of river in Upper Gardens Bournemouth 8/7/19
14 Jul 2019 19:50:00
We’ve just spotted a male Beautiful Demoiselle in our wildlife garden in North Wales. Very excited as we’ve never seen one before!
13 Aug 2019 15:11:00
Seeing a number of male beautiful demoiselle was the highlight of a walk along the Brede valley today, with mayfly and buzzards too. Thank you for helping me find out more about them.
24 May 2020 16:00:00
We were out walking on the 24th May 2020 near Ashurst. Saw several of the Beautiful demoiselle along the small streams. Also two buzzard, being chased off by other birds, lovely morning out of lockdown!
25 May 2020 13:32:00
Just had one of these beautiful creatures fly into the garden in Tunbridge Wells. Not remotely near a riverbank. Can only assume the breeze has taken him or he’s lost.
29 May 2020 11:45:00
Many spotted by the River Itchen in Hampshire today (15 June 2020, 11.30am)- my 12 year old son and I though they were butterflies at first, beautiful sight!
15 Jun 2020 16:47:00
Spotted a male in Harlow along the Canal. Unbelievable colour
16 Jun 2020 12:29:00
Spotted a male at Woods Mill in Sussex. Initially thought it was a very unusual butterfly!
14 Jul 2020 16:43:00
Spotted a male at Woods Mill in Sussex. Initially thought it was a very unusual butterfly!
14 Jul 2020 18:32:00
Spotted a male at Woods Mill in Sussex. Initially thought it was a very unusual butterfly!
17 Jul 2020 16:07:00
Spotted in Petts Wood, Kent/Greater London. So striking.
18 Jun 2021 19:36:00
I spotted two males flying around at Wicksteed park, Kettering. I had to look them up as I’ve never seen them before. They’re absolutely stunning.
04 Jul 2021 04:07:00
Just seen my first ever demoiselle in my garden in North Lincolnshire. So beautiful.
16 Jul 2021 09:37:00
Just seen the lovely male Beautiful Demoiselle in my West Sussex garden. First one I’ve ever seen. Stunning.
22 May 2022 10:57:00
One male Beautiful Demoiselle joined me and my baby for a spot of lunch in my kitchen today. Flew in and out a few times. Live in Bexhill on Sea – no stream nearby that I’m aware of.
27 May 2022 18:37:00
How brilliant, I just used Google lens to tell me what this wonderful little critter was after seeing one at fingle bridge, only to see the first comment below from Ann saying this is where she saw them in 2017!
07 Jun 2022 16:52:00
Stunning. Saw a pair of these for the first time, on the R. Arun, Horsham, one evening a couple of weeks ago. Thank you Sussex Wildlife Trust for helping me ID them!
24 Jun 2022 12:20:00
Identified a number of these fluttering under the bridge and over the water in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, yesterday. There was also a large dragonfly buzzing around – maybe hunting them? All very beautiful anyway.
10 Jun 2023 06:36:00
West Street Farm, Gun Hill 15/05/24
Beautiful blue Demoiselle identified on private land near mill pond and stream in wooded glen. Insect flew along large patio window offering a first ever sighting – glorious moment!
16 May 2024 07:35:00
Saw this dark blue flying insect on my grass. Never see one before. I had to look it up. A demoiselle. Stayed in the garden for a very long time. Beautiful.
19 May 2024 13:18:00
Took some pictures of a male in our garden in Goring (24/5/24). We have a small pond but the nearest stream, Ferring Rife, is a mile away.
26 May 2024 11:06:00
Took some pictures of a male in our garden in Goring (24/5/24). We have a small pond but the nearest stream, Ferring Rife, is a mile away.
26 May 2024 13:31:00
Saw two of these in my garden in Felbridge today. So pretty. We have a pond that wildlife seems to enjoy, but I haven’t seen these before – such a treat 🥰
21 Jun 2024 17:23:00
Beautiful indeed! We saw about ten of these on the River Bourne by the bridge at Golden Green Kent
08 Aug 2024 09:54:00
Saw an amazing demoiselle male today. It seemed to be feeding on the flower of one of our flowering shrubs close to our pond. We’re based about a mile out of Henley-on-Thames. We’ve always gardened in a way that gives wildlife a safe haven, but I have never seen a demoiselle before and had to look on line to find out what it was. Absolutely beautiful and I feel very privileged. 2nd June 2025 16.25
02 Jun 2025 22:26:00
Watching a beautiful male, flitting along a small brook, perching on ferns and surrounding vegetation. In Rhydycroesau
10 Jun 2025 12:12:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
How lovely!
I saw one of these beauties today along the river Wensum in Norwich, Norfolk. I’ve never seen anything like it! It took my breath away
17 Jun 2025 21:29:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
They are magical!
Seen in the gardens I am heading gardener at this week daily stunning Isle of Wight..
29 Jun 2025 16:38:00
This beautiful Demoiselle was inside on our window. This is the first time i saw one.
29 Jun 2025 19:16:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Lovely
This beautiful Demoiselle was inside on our window. This is the first time i saw one.
30 Jun 2025 08:42:00
Saw what I think must be one as I’ve never seen one before. Tarnock Somerset. It was gorgeous
13 Jul 2025 17:40:00
We were at Batemans in Burwash and walked down to the stream where we saw a number of these flying with the sun catching their wings. Utterly beautiful.
17 Jul 2025 19:46:00
Spent the afternoon at Mount Usher gardens on the River Vartry in County Wicklow, Ireland. The river is wide and low flowing at the moment, but the gardens lush. We saw these fabulous male Demoiselle damselflies on the river banks, completely captivating, dancing like fairies in the sunlight. Absolutely magical to watch!
25 Jul 2025 16:48:00
Saw one today whilst doing my butterfly count in my garden. Near Malvern Worcestershire. Beautiful little creature.
01 Aug 2025 19:12:00
We say this beautiful butterfly close to the mill at Lyme Regis 😍
02 Aug 2025 15:58:00
There was a male in my garden 28/5/26, by my small pond. London Road, Hassocks
29 May 2026 09:32:00