The emerald damselfly is a medium-sized damselfly which lives amongst lush vegetation around the edge of ponds and lakes, ditches and canals. Perched emerald damselflies can be distinguished from the other damselflies by their habit of holding their wings half-open, rather than closed along the length of their body. The last species of damselfly to emerge in the UK each year, they are on the wing from the end of June to September.

Male emerald damselflies are metallic green, with pale powder-blue eyes. The tip of the abdomen is also blue, as is the thorax. Females are metallic green with pale beige stripes on the thorax. The scarce emerald damselfly is a much rarer species and looks very similar. It is confined to the south and east of the country.

Pic 2: A natural light capture of an Emerald Damselfly taken near the ‘Dragonfly Pond’ at Cosmeston Park around 7pm. The body is metallic green in both sexes. I think this one is a mature male as he has a powdery blue bloom between the wings and at both ends of the abdomen. Interestingly, unlike other damselflies it rests with its wings partially open. The metallic bloom on this Emerald Damselfly matches nicely the blue/grey fence that he is perching on. I also think that these cool hues contrast nicely against the warm yellow glow of the background. I would have liked to have had the lens more parallel with his body in order to have had his abdomen more in focus but unfortunately the fence that he is perching on got in the way and prevented me from doing this.