Red-eyed Damselfly
VU

Red-eyed Damselfly

Erythromma najas

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythromma_najas

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Red-eyed Damselfly faces severe population declines across its European range due to habitat degradation and loss of suitable breeding waters. Eutrophication from agricultural runoff and urban development has altered the water chemistry of many ponds and lakes, reducing the aquatic vegetation essential for egg-laying and larval development. Climate change is shifting the species' suitable habitat northward, while drainage of wetlands for agriculture has eliminated numerous breeding sites throughout its historical range.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Red-eyed Damselfly inhabits shallow, well-vegetated ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing rivers with abundant emergent and submerged aquatic plants. It shows a strong preference for mesotrophic to slightly eutrophic waters with dense stands of water lilies, pondweeds, and other floating-leaved vegetation that provide essential egg-laying substrates.

Other threatened species in Coenagrionidae

Irish DamselflyVU

Irish Damselfly

Coenagrion lunulatum

Unknown
VU

Seychelles Fineliner

Teinobasis alluaudi

Unknown
Goblet-marked DamselflyVU

Goblet-marked Damselfly

Erythromma lindenii

Unknown
Variable DamselflyEN

Variable Damselfly

Coenagrion pulchellum

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Syndyas nigripes

Unknown
Chrysotus cupreusCR

Chrysotus cupreus

Unknown
VU

narulukkokiiluri

Syntormon filiger

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Red-eyed Damselfly classified as Vulnerable?
Red-eyed Damselfly is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Red-eyed Damselfly faces severe population declines across its European range due to habitat degradation and loss of suitable breeding waters. Eutrophication from agricultural runoff and urban development has altered the water chemistry of many ponds and lakes, reducing the aquatic vegetation essential for egg-laying and larval development. Climate change is shifting the species' suitable habitat northward, while drainage of wetlands for agriculture has eliminated numerous breeding sites throughout its historical range.
Where does Red-eyed Damselfly live?
Red-eyed Damselfly occurs in Åland Islands, Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, and Bulgaria (plus 33 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Red-eyed Damselfly?
The main threats to Red-eyed Damselfly are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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