What is a Banded Demoiselle?
The Banded Demoiselle belongs to a group of insects called Odonata (meaning toothed jaws ) that includes Dragonflies and Damselflies. Over 40 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies can be seen in Britain, and the Banded Demoiselle is one of the largest species of Damselflies in this country.

How do I recognise one?
The male shows a characteristic dark spot on each of its four wings. The male's body shines with metallic blue-green colours in the sun, and its beautiful fluttering flight is aimed at attracting females onto its guarded territory by the riverside. The female is less distinctive, lacks the wing patch, and can be confused with other species such as the female Beautiful Demoiselle.

How long do they live?
The Banded Demoiselle only lives for a week or two as an adult, but spends most of its life as a larva (or nymph) underwater. Adult females lay their eggs into the stems of water-plants. A couple of weeks later, the eggs hatch into larvae, which develop underwater over two years, amongst submerged vegetation and plant debris. When ready, the fully-grown larva will climb onto a stem or twig sticking out of the water and the dull, stick-like larva will transform into a graceful winged adult.

What sort of habitat do they need?
Banded Demoiselle larvae need the permanent slow-flowing water of rivers, streams and some canals. They also need plenty of vegetation on the water’s edge for the larvae to climb out on, and for the adults to perch on and feed around.

What do they feed on and what are their predators?
The Banded Demoiselle, like all Dragonflies and Damselflies, is a fierce predator. As larvae they will eat almost anything that is smaller than them, including mosquito larvae, bloodworms, etc, and they can fall prey to fish, water scorpions, water beetles, etc. As adults they will eat any flying insect that they can catch, such as midges, mosquitoes, flies, etc, and their predators include frogs, toads, and birds. They can also be caught in spiders' webs.

How can I see a Banded Demoiselle for myself?
If you walk by a riverside or along a canal with plenty of waterside vegetation, on a warm sunny day between May and September, you will stand a good chance of seeing this fascinating species! However, it may be more difficult to see the Banded Demoiselle in Northern England, where it is not as common. It is absent from Scotland, apart from restricted locations at the southern edge of the country.

If you see adult males or mating pairs, please tell us about it by filling in the Banded Demoiselle recording form.

Why is it important to record the Banded Demoiselle?
The British Dragonfly Society (BDS) and its Dragonfly Recording Network are keen to hear from you. It is important that we gather up-to-date information about this fascinating species: it will help us compare its 2006 distribution in the UK with that of 20-30 years ago, thus allowing us to determine whether or not the Banded Demoiselle is facing decline. By visiting the Banded Demoiselle survey website you will see that we are lacking crucial information about where the species can currently be found. We welcome all your records and your photographs of Banded Demoiselles, and we will post monthly updates on the survey website.