Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

 In Britain, native populations of the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) seem to predominate in scattered areas of south-west and south-central England and into Wales. Living in Sussex, the nearest populations were in the New Forest area of Hampshire but I have never managed to find any.

In recent years however, this species has been recorded in one or two isolated populations in West Sussex and during the last two years it has been found in three small populations in East Sussex. With our warming climate in south-east England, it seems likely that this species has made the journey across the channel from mainland Europe.

In July, following information from a friend, I managed to connect with this diminutive little damselfly.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio)

(males)

(This male was stretching and preening)

(mating pair)