However you may find its footprints in the soft bank of rivers or lakes. It is an introduced species to Ireland and the fins under the belly are coloured orange to red. It spawns in April and May among dense vegetation near the water's edge forming large shoals. They develop into adults which emerge to become free-flying insects in summer. Living under submerged rocks for two years, they scavenge on the bottom for food.
Damselflies are slender-bodied dragonflies with relatively weak powers of flight.
There are eleven Irish species of damselfly which are rarely found far from water. It seldom grows on dry ground but usually grows in clumps on the banks of rivers, streams, lakes and marshes. It has broad, blunt dull-green leaves which appear in April. Male and female catkins grow in separate clusters on the ends of the tree's leafless twigs and in March the male catkins open, scattering golden pollen to fertilise the bud-like female catkins. Newts hibernate from October to March and can be seen in ponds, lakes and slow moving waters in spring when they return to lay eggs.