A. DAMSELFLIES (ZYGOPTERA)
1 Large damselflies (hind wing 27 mm or
more) with metallic green or blue bodies
and tinted wings
— Smaller damselflies (hind wing 25 mm or
less) with variously patterned and
coloured bodies. Wings clear.
2 Dark blue/purple blotch on each wing
(leaving inner half, and outer tip more
lightly tinted).
— Wings more-or-less evenly tinted over
whole surface (densely or lightly so).
3 Wings almost wholly tinted with dense
smoky brown or purplish colouration
(rare in Essex).
— Wings lightly and evenly tinted
4 Wing-tint usually clear green (not a
reliable character). Small white marks
near tips of fore-wings twice as large as
those on the hind wings.
— Wing-tint usually reddish or brownish
(not a reliable character). Small white
marks near tips of fore-wings merely
larger than those on hind wings. (Rare in
Essex)
5 Body mainly green, without black
markings (may have some pale blue
abdominal segments).
— Not as above. Body variously coloured,
but if green, then not metallic, and with
black markings.
6 Eyes, and all or part of segments 2.9. and
10 pale blue. Large curved appendages at
tip of abdomen visible when viewed
dorsally (immature specimens may lack
blue colouring).
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