The Pygmy Damselfly (Nehalennia speciosa) is an insect in the Coenagrionidae family of dragonflies and damselflies. It is also called the Sedgling Damselfly.
The Pygmy Damselfly is a small species with a long, thin, cylindrical beige to cream body with a light-blue head and a light-blue bulbous tail. Its wings are long and translucent.
It grows to about 3 centimetres (1 inch) in length. Its wingspan is about 2 centimetres (about 1 inch).
It is found across Central Europe. It prefers sedge swamps, freshwater marshes, and pools of water, but not running or fast-flowing water. It likes to perch among reeds, water lilies, and lotus flowers.
It is seen from May to August.
When it rests, it does not spread its wings like other damselflies in the Lestidaefamily. Instead, it rests with its wings alongside its body.
The female Pygmy Damselfly usually lays eggs in vegetation on the surface of pond water. The eggs develop over the next few weeks. The eggs hatch into larvae. Over two months, the larvae grow and become adult damselflies.
Location of photograph: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM