Species account

Small Redeye (Erythromma viridulum)    (Charpentier, 1840)
   Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) [Dragonflies]    SMRE    24792
Lille Rødøjet Vandnymfe (dk)   Azulado de Ojos Rojos (es)   Mindre Rödögonflickslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Small Red-eyed Damselfly (gb) Agrion de Ojos Rojos (es)
Synonyms (scientific):
Agrion bremii Rambur, 1842
Erythromma latistrigis Le Roi, 1914
Erythromma puellare Le Roi, 1914 (nec Schimer, 1913)
Erythromma orientale Schmidt, 1960
Measurements:
To 26-32mm Ab 22-25mm Hw 16-20mm
Generations:
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
Mating and egg-laying probably much like E. najas. In tandem the female inserts the eggs into plant material from the surface, and likely also submerged when the conditions are suitable. They don't mind doing egg-laying in clusters when many pairs are ready. The larvae develop during 1-2 years. The imago-transformation takes place on floating plants or in vegetation close to the water.
Distribution: (?):Altitude is often taken from a specific localized resource, why the true entire range very likely is wider.
Most of Europe and Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia; absent most of Scandinavian peninsula except for southern Sweden. Also absent most of British isles except southern part. Also eastward through Turkey and Middle East to Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. In Denmark seen in all regions, but with and emphasis on the southern and eastern part.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status:
First seen in Denmark in 2001 and has been spreading northward constantly since then. Same movement has populated southern Sweden. Has entered from southeast being most common on Sjælland, Lolland and Falster with a northwest movement through Fyn and Jylland. Likely in competition with najas and is probably more adaptable to the Danish conditions. As of 2025 the observations in the northern part of the country (Jylland) are still scarce with only few records per municipality (however, perhaps emphasized by less coverage).
Comment:
Scan-flight period forwarded a whole month compared to Billqvist (2023) due to early observations during recent years in Denmark and southern Sweden.
Small Redeye 3010    (2 photos)
2024-07-19    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago
Engsø. Egg-laying.
In prime bloom right now with 700 loosely counted on the lake today.



Small Redeye 1415    (1 photos)
2020-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Ellevehøjvej.



Small Redeye 1406    (2 photos)
2020-08-07    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Ellevehøjvej.



Small Redeye 1396    (1 photos)
2020-08-10    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Den Landskabelige Kanal.
In typical habitat.



Small Redeye 1400    (1 photos)
2020-08-10    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Den Landskabelig Kanal.



Small Redeye 1402    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Ellevehøjvej?
Small Redeye 1403    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Ellevehøjvej?
Small Redeye 1397    (2 photos)
2020-08-13    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
I'm not sure it isn't from Amager Fælled, but if the location is correct it has to be from Ellevehøjvej at the southern bridge toward the shelter area Viben.

Typical male with the black X on S10.



Small Redeye 1398    (1 photos)
2020-08-13    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
I'm not sure it isn't from Amager Fælled, but if the location is correct it has to be from Ellevehøjvej at the southern bridge toward the shelter area Viben.

Typical male with the black X on S10.



Small Redeye 1401    (1 photos)
2020-08-13    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male




Small Redeye 1412    (1 photos)
2022-07-17    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Den Landskabelige Kanal.



Small Redeye 1410    (2 photos)
2022-07-17    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Den Landskabelige Kanal.



Small Redeye 1633    (1 photos)
2023-06-21    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Pumpehus-broen.



Small Redeye 1632    (1 photos)
2023-06-21    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Pumpehus-broen.
Nice to see they are still here.



Small Redeye 1693    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Male
Søen på gårdspladsen, Herlufsholm.
Some 20 seen by a glance.



Small Redeye 2251    (4 photos)
2023-08-22    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Teneral.
Showing the complete shoulder stripe of the male of this species compared to the one absent on najas [Stor Rødøjet Vandnymfe] otherwise the distinct pattern on S8-10 shines through [literally] even though the colors are vague. I guess what you can see translucent inside the abdomen in fact is the intestinal duct waving its way from S1 to S10. Nice!



Small Redeye 2353    (2 photos)
2023-09-15    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Dæmningen, Landskabelige Kanal.
Likely the last on of the season.



Small Redeye 2822    (1 photos)
2024-06-28    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Pumpehusbroen.
Few seen this year compared to the previous years.



Small Redeye 2883    (2 photos)
2024-07-20    Rødby Færgehavn, Denmark

Imago Male
In Sea Buckthorn-thicket. Teneral
A beautiful young male!
And unusual place to find it, away from everything suited, but I guess that is exactly how they do it, hide away until they are ready for the adult games.



Small Redeye 2877    (1 photos)
2024-07-20    Døllefjelde Musse Naturpark (Lolland), Denmark

Imago Male




Small Redeye 3011    (8 photos)
2024-08-18    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Engsø. Dead.
Was sitting like this on the dry flower, but seemed to be moving the rear part, why I thought it was alive. Later, picking it up, it stilled moved on my hand, but then certainly left for the better world beyond. The movement was probably just a terminal reflex.



Small Redeye 1076    (1 photos)
2022-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female
Enghøj sø. In the grass away from the water. Rather unusual, and also the first time I see the species at this lake.



Small Redeye 1416    (1 photos)
2020-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Ellevehøjvej. Egg-laying tandem.



Small Redeye 1414    (1 photos)
2020-08-07    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Ellevehøjvej. Egg-laying tandem.



Small Redeye 1409    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Ellevehøjvej. Egg-laying tandem.



Small Redeye 1399    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Ellevehøjvej?
Mating wheel.



Small Redeye 1408    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Ellevehøjvej. Egg-laying tandems.



Small Redeye 1407    (1 photos)
2020-08-13    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Ellevehøjvej. Tandem for egg-laying.



Small Redeye 1405    (3 photos)
2022-06-27    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Ellevehøjvej.

Egg-laying tandem.
Small Redeye 1413    (1 photos)
2022-07-17    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Den Landskabelige Kanal. Egg-laying tandem.
A female with a nice complete shoulder stripe, which najas (Rødøjet Vandnymfe) doesn't have.



Small Redeye 1411    (1 photos)
2022-07-17    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Den Landskabelige Kanal. Egg-laying tandem.



Small Redeye 1761    (1 photos)
2023-07-08    Letmose (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Mostly photographed as documentation of a correct identification since the species is still rather scatteringly presented in Jylland.



Small Redeye 2397    (1 photos)
2023-09-06    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Dæmningen, Den Landskabelige Kanal. Egg-laying.