These are commonly known as the narrow-winged damselflies, and
there are 13 British species. Their adult body length ranges
from 25 - 50 mm, and they contain the largest number of species
in Northern Europe. The adults are usually red and black or blue
and black. On the left is Coenagrion pluella, the Azure
damselfly or Pond damselfly. Its wingspan is 41 mm and body
length 33 mm. The adult flies from May to August. It is found
near water meadows with lush grass, canals with abundant reeds,
ditches and is one of the most common found in garden ponds. It
is common in England and Ireland, but less common in Scotland.
This one was just moulting into and adult. The female lays her
eggs in the tissues of plants on the water surface. The venation
of the wings is used in identification to species level, however
there is disagreement between entomologists in naming the veins,
so identification for a beginner is usually easiest using
illustrations. They have 10 or 11 abdominal segments. All males
have a pair of clasper