It flys from late July till as late as early November, the great majority being seen in August and September. As many as nine can be found on a good day, hunting at the Lake, along Syon Vista and in many other sunny rides and corners. They are occasionally seen at the Waterlily Pond and the Aquatic Garden between late July and mid-August. A female was observed egg-laying at the Waterlily Pond on 10 August 1991. The males have a narrow powder-blue abdomen and the females and juveniles are yellow.
Females turn dull grey with age but sometimes become blue like the male.
The larvae live in mud, unlike those of the dragonflies listed above which live in water weed. A male was at the Sir Joseph Banks Building lake on 13 and 15 June 1989. Easily recognised by its broad plump abdomen which is powder-blue in the adult male and pale brown in females and juveniles. The larvae live in mud. This species is commoner in some years than others and sometimes several are seen at a time.