Blue-tailed damselfly
(Ischnura elegans)
These dragonflies in the Zygoptera suborder are widespread throughout Italy and can be observed in their active state from April to October.
Distribution
This species is present in nearly all of Europe and Northern Asia. Only the Iberian Peninsula is excluded, where I. graellsi is found, as are the islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, where the similar I. genei is found. In Italy, it is spread throughout all regions on the continent and peninsula, as well as the islands of Elba and Giglio.
Description
A small damselfly with a black abdomen and a notable coloured band on the eighth abdominal segment. In males, this segment is completely blue. They hatch in the Reserve around May or even starting in April if the season is particularly warm. They are sometimes still active in September or even October, always in relation to the weather. This species has two annual generations, with the spring populations generally more robust than the summer-autumn populations.
Habitat
They are very common in the plain, even with overpopulation sometimes, but they can also be found up to 2000 m. They frequent stagnant or flowing water indifferently, so they tend to be more numerous in the former; they also adapt to brackish water. The adults live among the vegetation alongside bodies of water, among rushes, in swampy meadows, rice paddies, etc. Their flight is uncertain and slow.
Observation in the Torbiera Reserve
They are very common in the Reserve and present practically everywhere.
