26-6-2024 LAGUNA DE SILLA, VALENCIA - IBERIAN BLUE DAMSELFLY (Ischnura graellsii)

The Iberian Bluetail – Ischnura graellsii – Cola azul ibérico is a small slender damselfly species. It is possibly the most commonly encountered and frequently the most numerous damselfly on the Iberian peninsula.

Total length: 26 to 31mm

Hind Wing length: 13 to 19mm

Flight period in Iberia: early June to early November

Habitat: Any wetland habitat with plentiful emergent vegetation including rivers, ditches and pools. Can sometimes be numerous around coastal lagoons & saltmarshes.

Distribution: The Mediterranean regions of Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia, Portugal & most of Spain

Similar species: Very similar to the Common Bluetail (Ischnura elegans) and the Scarce Bluetail (Ischnura pumilio) both of which occur on the Iberian peninsula.

16-4-2023 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - IBERIAN BLUE DAMSELFLY (Ischnura graellsii)

The Iberian Bluetail ( Ischnura graellsii ) is a slightly smaller counterpart to the Common Bluetail – Blue-tailed Damselfly ( Ischnura elegans ) and is confined to Iberia and North Africa where it is again abundant on all types of water. Females of the former hybridise with males of the latter in northern Spain.

Males have a slightly shorter abdomen than the Common Bluetail – Ischnura elegans and also may have smaller (or even non-existant) postocular spots and antehumeral stripes.

Females again come in three colour forms with the immature thorax being greeny- yellow in Type A, pale lilac in Type B and orange in Type C.