The blue-tailed damselfly or common bluetail (Ischnura elegans) is named because segment eight is entirely pale blue. A number of colour forms exist, where the abdomen can be pink (rufescens), lilac (violacea) or green (infuscans) when the damselfly first emerges, slowly turning to the blue of most mature adults.
It has a largely black abdomen with very narrow pale markings where each segment joins the next. Female blue-tailed Damselflies come in a variety of colours. Juveniles may be salmon pink, form rufescens; violet, form violacea and a pale green form. The colour darkens as the damselfly ages. Mature females may be blue like the male (form typica); olive green thorax and brown spot (form infuscans); or pale brown thorax and brown spot (form infusca-obseleta).
