Beautiful Demoiselle

The Beautiful Demoiselle is a strikingly colourful sub-species of damselfly. Their delicate, metallic wings make them impossible to miss when they appear along Galway’s canals during the summer months. Males have metallic blue-green bodies and dark blue tinted wings, while females have a metallic green body and light brown wings. They are noted for their fluid, fluttery wing movements, which mimic that of a butterfly. Their preferred habitats are gravelly, clear sections of fast-flowing rivers (such as the Corrib) where they will feed on small insects, snails, and larvae. Fun fact: male Beautiful Demoiselles are known to perform elaborate mid-air dances when attempting to attract a mate.