Northern Damselfly
Coenagrion hastulatum
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
31
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenagrion_hastulatum
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Odonata
Family
Coenagrionidae
Genus
Coenagrion
Northern Damselfly belongs to the family Coenagrionidae, order Odonata, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Northern Damselfly faces severe threats from climate change, which is causing the warming and acidification of its specialized bog and moorland habitats. Habitat destruction through peat extraction, drainage of wetlands, and agricultural conversion has significantly reduced available breeding sites, while pollution from agricultural runoff and atmospheric deposition further degrades water quality in remaining habitats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits acidic, nutrient-poor bog pools, moorland tarns, and shallow peat-stained waters in upland areas. Requires specific water chemistry conditions with low pH and minimal nutrient levels, typically found in sphagnum bog complexes and heathland pools.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Northern Damselfly faces severe threats from climate change, which is causing the warming and acidification of its specialized bog and moorland habitats. Habitat destruction through peat extraction, drainage of wetlands, and agricultural conversion has significantly reduced available breeding sites, while pollution from agricultural runoff and atmospheric deposition further degrades water quality in remaining habitats.
Climate change and habitat warming
Peat extraction and bog destruction
Wetland drainage and conversion
Habitat fragmentation
Water pollution from agricultural runoff
Found in 31 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Northern Damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/northern-damselfly