Banded demoiselle

This very beautiful damselfly is noticeably larger than the common blue and red species.  The male has dramatic iridescent dark blue colouring with black bands on his wings which are even more obvious in his slow fluttering flight.

In the right light he is a shimmering green.

The mature female is green and gold with yellow/gold wings.

The immature female is pure gold with almost transparent wings.

It certainly lives up to to name of Calopteryx splendens.  The pictures were taken at the Ox Hovel, Heyford Mill, Northamptonshire.