Small Red Damsel
(Ceriagrion tenellum)

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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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Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da143. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum f. melanogastrum) - immature female. PhotoID: Da144. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da145. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum f. typica) - female. PhotoID: Da146. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum f. typica) - female. PhotoID: Da147.
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Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da148. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum f. typica) - female. PhotoID: Da149. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum f. typica) - female. PhotoID: Da150. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da151. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum f. typica) - female. PhotoID: Da152.
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Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da153. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum). PhotoID: Da154. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da155. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da156. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da157.
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Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum f. typica) - female. PhotoID: Da158. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum) - male. PhotoID: Da159. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum). PhotoID: Da160. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum). PhotoID: Da161. Small Red Damsel (Ceriagrion tenellum). PhotoID: Da162.