Banded demoiselle
Males show a broad dark band across each wing that can shrink to almost nothing or spread nearly to the tip depending on the population.
| Where | Slow-flowing rivers and clean streams |
|---|---|
| Size | 45 to 48 mm body length |
| When | May to August |
Male Banded demoiselles have a metallic blue-green body and a broad dark blue-black band across each wing that starts partway along its length. Females are metallic green with clear, pale green wings marked by a small false white spot near the tip.
Adults favor clean, slow-flowing rivers and streams, where males perform fluttering display flights over the water to attract females and defend short territories along the bank.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Blue, Green, Metallic
Active
Day
To people
Seen displaying over clean rivers; it does not bite or sting people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Slightly larger at about 49 to 54 mm body length, with males showing completely dark wings rather than the partial dark band of the Banded demoiselle.
Questions
Is the Banded demoiselle dangerous to people?
Seen displaying over clean rivers; it does not bite or sting people.
When can you see the Banded demoiselle?
The Banded demoiselle can be seen from May to August, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Estonian Museum of Natural History, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Demoiselles›Calopteryx
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.