Marsh Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis)
• Scientific name: Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842)
• English name: Marsh Bluetail
• German name: Senegal-Pechlibelle
• French name: N/A
• Dutch name: Senegalees lantaarntje
• Swedish name: N/A
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: N/A
• Danish name: N/A
• Italian name: N/A
• Czech name: N/A
• Slovenian name: N/A
• Bulgarian name: N/A
• Typical length: 29-37 mm
• Hindwing: 14-22 mm
Over the years there has been much debate about the presence or otherwise of the Marsh Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis) on the Canary Islands (and therefore in Europe). As recently as 2008 and 2011 photographs of the species taken on Tenerife were initially misidentified as the Sahara Bluetail (Ischnura saharensis); an understandable mistake, considering I. senegalensis didn't occur on the official checklists whereas I. saharensis did (and was in fact considered the only damselfly present on the island). And yet the differences between the two species are quite obvious; a quick look at the side of the male's second abdominal segment should make a correct determination fairly straightforward. In I. saharensis the black upper part of S2 is separated from the green lower part in a straight line, whereas the male I. senegalensis shows a clear black bulge on the side of S2. During a recent visit to the island we managed to find and photograph males, immature (orange) females, mature (green) females, copulas, and also teneral (freshly emerged) individuals - a clear indication that the species reproduces on the island. I. senegalensis has a very wide distribution and is commonly found throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as far east as Japan.
