Banded Agrion Damselfly

Several species of damselfly breed in ponds on the university estate but banded agrion damselflies have so far only been recorded from the small stream that runs from Van mildert college pond and through the southern edge of the Botanic Garden. They are most often seen in late June and July. Only the male has these blue-spotted wings - the female's wings are transparent and her body is a duller shade of green. Both can sometimes be seen resting on the beech tree leaves beside the stream at the point where it runs along the edge of the haymeadow in the Botanic Garden. The males defend a short stretch of territory along the stream and perform a courtship dance in front of the females - an aerial ballet that leads her to the site for egg laying.