Beautiful demoiselle

Calopteryx virgo
Red Data Book of Ukraine — vulnerableHunting is prohibited
Beautiful demoiselle
Photo: Thomas Bresson, CC BY, Wikimedia Commons
Beautiful demoiselle
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Beautiful demoiselle
Photo: Nicolas Sanchez, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Beautiful demoiselle is one of the most beautiful dragonflies and at the same time an indicator of water purity. It lives near streams, brooks, and small rivers with clean flowing water and riparian vegetation. In Ukraine, it is mainly found in the Right Bank of the Dnieper, and in Crimea, it has most likely disappeared. Mostly, it is found at altitudes up to 980 m, rarely up to 1200 m, so in the Carpathians, it inhabits valleys and foothills.

The male's wings are dark blue with a metallic sheen, and only the tips are slightly lighter; young males have dark brown wings. The body and eyes are metallic blue-green. Females are more modest: their wings are completely smoky or brown. The hind wings are 31–37 mm long.

Adult dragonflies fly from May to September. Males stay in their territory and rarely fly more than 20–100 m, while females can fly up to 6 km in a day. The female lays up to 300 eggs one by one in the tissues of leaves and stems of aquatic plants, making incisions with her ovipositor. The larvae develop in flowing water for about two years, staying among submerged aquatic plants; they are rarely found in standing water.

The main threats are chemical and organic water pollution, river straightening, hydraulic engineering construction, and land reclamation. The Beautiful demoiselle is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine as a vulnerable species, so catching it is prohibited. If blue dragonflies flutter over the stream, it is a good sign: the water here is clean.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore283 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Hungary · Romania · Ukraine · Slovakia · Czechia · Poland · Austria · Serbia
Mountain ranges
Bukovina Obcinas, Zemplén Mountains, Bükk, Mátra, Börzsöny and Cserhát, Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Gorgany, Polonynian Ridge, Hășmaș Mountains, Trascău and Metaliferi Mountains
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

A species in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (vulnerable): catching and collecting is prohibited.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

What blue dragonfly is flying over the stream?

Most likely, it is a male Beautiful demoiselle: dark blue shiny wings and a blue-green body. It lives only near clean flowing waters.

Is the Beautiful demoiselle listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine?

Yes, as a vulnerable species.

Similar species

Grey wagtailGrey wagtailMotacilla cinereaThe grey-yellow wagtail with the longest tail, running over the stones of mountain streams and constantly swaying it.
White-throated dipperIn season nowWhite-throated dipperCinclus cinclusA bird of mountain streams with a white 'bib' that dives and runs along the bottom against the current. It can be seen all year round.
Brown troutBrown troutSalmo truttaThe main fish of cold Carpathian streams. Fishing is prohibited from October 10 to March 1, with a compensation of 7,225 UAH for each fish.

Where to meet it

Trails

Novoselytsia – Smerekovyi StoneEasyOne-dayMarkedNovoselytsia Smerekovyi StoneElevation profile322–729 m4.3 km≈ 1 h walkingMount Kinashka – Lekechi villageEasyOne-dayMarkedMount Kinashka Lekechi villageElevation profile521–1 043 m9.5 kmascent 4 m≈ 2.5 h walkingTo Mount StrymbaModerateOne-dayMarkedTo Mount StrymbaElevation profile637–1 719 m5.5 kmascent 1 082 m≈ 3.5 h walkingKolochava village – Mount Strymba – Kolochava villageModerateTwo-dayMarkedKolochava village loopvia Mount StrymbaElevation profile637–1 719 m16.2 kmascent 1 086 m≈ 6 h walkingKolochava village – Mount Topas – Kolochava villageModerateTwo-dayKolochava village loopvia Mount TopasElevation profile632–1 548 m16.2 kmascent 1 030 m≈ 6 h walkingKolochava village, via Mount Strymba and Pryslip Pass to Kolochava villageModerateOne-dayMarkedKolochava village loopvia Mount Strymba, Pryslip PassElevation profile643–1 719 m13.6 kmascent 1 076 m≈ 5.5 h walking
Nature trail «To the Guardians of Nedeia»EasyOne-dayMarkedNature trail «To the Guardians of Nedeia»Elevation profile576–841 m5.4 kmascent 436 m≈ 2 h walkingUzhok village, via Husnyi village, Mount Drohobytskyi Kamin, the Ruska Put Pass and Mount Pikui to Bilasovytsia villageHardMulti-dayMarkedUzhok village to Bilasovytsia villagevia Husnyi village, Mount Drohobytskyi Kamin +2Elevation profile540–1 408 m30.3 kmascent 1 450 m≈ 10.5 h walkingKamianka tract – mineral spring – Huchalo WaterfallEasyOne-dayMarkedKamianka tract Huchalo Waterfallvia mineral springElevation profile365–590 m4.8 kmascent 3 m≈ 1 h walkingOsii village – Mount BerdoModerateOne-dayMarkedOsii village Mount BerdoElevation profile257–928 m8.5 kmascent 678 m≈ 3.5 h walkingKamianka tract – Enchanted ValleyEasyOne-dayMarkedKamianka tract Enchanted ValleyElevation profile363–771 m6.8 kmascent 412 m≈ 2.5 h walkingKamianka tract – Mount Berdo – Bilky villageModerateOne-dayMarkedKamianka tract Bilky villagevia Mount BerdoElevation profile150–928 m16 kmascent 565 m≈ 5 h walking

Waters and waterfalls

City lake in KolomyiaLakeCity lake in KolomyiaKolomyiaAfter touring the city, it's a good idea to relax and unwind by the water.Bystrytsia Solotvynska RiverRiverBystrytsia Solotvynska RiverSolotvynThe Bystrytsia Solotvynska rises at about 1,390 m at the foot of Mala Syvulia and Bystryk, near the Peklo cliffs in...City Banske Lake (Kosiv)LakeCity Banske Lake (Kosiv)KosivThere are lakes of technogenic origin in the Hutsul mountains. One such lake is Banske Lake (near the former factory ...Kosivskyi Huk WaterfallWaterfallKosivskyi Huk WaterfallKosivKosivskyi Huk - one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Ukrainian Carpathians (in the Pokuttya-Bukovyna...Tereblia RiverRiverTereblia RiverKolochavaThe Tereblia begins in the Inner Gorgany, where the Roztoka and Sloboda streams meet, and flows through Synevyrska...Truskavets ReservoirLakeTruskavets ReservoirTruskavetsTruskavets Reservoir, known locally as Lake Solonytsia, lies on the south-eastern edge of Truskavets, next to the...

Mountain ranges: Bukovina Obcinas, Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Gorgany, Polonynian Ridge, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge, Krasna Polonyna, Maramureș Mountains. In other countries: 🇭🇺 Zemplén Mountains, 🇭🇺 Bükk, 🇭🇺 Mátra, 🇭🇺 Börzsöny and Cserhát, 🇷🇴 Hășmaș Mountains, 🇷🇴 Trascău and Metaliferi Mountains, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.