The photogenic Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx Splendens or Calpteryx Maculata…) is common along the banks of clean, slow flowing rivers in the southern half of Britain and throughout most of Ireland. This beautiful insect is sensitive to pollution and it may therefore be considered to be useful as an indicator species. Males are a deep metallic blue (although they may appear green in flash photographs) and they have dark blue clouded areas on each wing which are used for signalling purposes during the courtship display. This activity may be seen in the first photograph and it is a process that may involve numerous individuals of both sexes.