Small Red Damsel
(Ceriagrion tenellum)

The Small Red Damsel is one of four European species whose bodies are predominantly red. Compared to its larger stable mate the Large Red Damsel, Ceriagrion tenellum is a relatively small and dainty damselfly. It's a fairly common and widespread species in Iberia, France and Italy, becoming much rarer and more localized further North. The species' main distinguishing features include, obviously, its all-red head and abdomen (although some female colour forms are predominantly black), its fleshy-red legs, and its red pterostigma.

For an overview of the Small Red Damsel's distribution in Europe, hover your mouse pointer over the map symbol .
With the authors' permission we have based this map on data published in Kalkman et al. (2010).
Legend: Red = Occurs, White = Doesn't occur; Purple = Extinct; Yellow = Vagrant.

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