Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
EN

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Ischnura pumilio

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarce_blue-tailed_damselfly

Overview

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

The Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification and urban development have eliminated many of the shallow, temporary pools and ditches essential for breeding. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and climate-induced changes to precipitation patterns further threaten the ephemeral aquatic habitats this species requires for reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This damselfly inhabits shallow, temporary freshwater pools, ditches, and marshy areas with emergent vegetation. It shows a strong preference for ephemeral water bodies that dry seasonally, including agricultural drainage channels and temporary ponds in coastal and lowland regions.

Other threatened species in Coenagrionidae

Irish DamselflyVU

Irish Damselfly

Coenagrion lunulatum

Unknown
VU

Seychelles Fineliner

Teinobasis alluaudi

Unknown
Red-eyed DamselflyVU

Red-eyed Damselfly

Erythromma najas

Unknown
Goblet-marked DamselflyVU

Goblet-marked Damselfly

Erythromma lindenii

Unknown

Threatened in Afghanistan

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Asiatic Black BearVU

Asiatic Black Bear

Ursus thibetanus

Declining
VU

Urial

Ovis vignei

Declining
VU

Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard

Saara hardwickii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly classified as Endangered?
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification and urban development have eliminated many of the shallow, temporary pools and ditches essential for breeding. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and climate-induced changes to precipitation patterns further threaten the ephemeral aquatic habitats this species requires for reproduction.
Where does Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly live?
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly occurs in Afghanistan, Åland Islands, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, and Armenia (plus 56 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 Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly?
The main threats to Scarce Blue-tailed 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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