[3] Like the other members of the genus Lestes, both sexes of L. dryas have largely metallic green bodies with a bronze iridescence.

Powder blue pruinescence develops on the front and end of the abdomen, the pronotum and the sides of the thorax.

The anal appendages in L. dryas and L. sponsa are black whilst in the other European Lestes they are white or light coloured.

It is found in still, shallow water in well vegetated ditches, ponds, bogs and lakes.

[4] Adults fly from April in the south of its range to late May in the north but are on the wing mostly in July and August.

They tend to live in dense vegetation and rarely fly over open water, staying near the margins of the pond or lake.

They mate in the normal damselfly manner by forming the wheel position and after copulation the male stays in tandem, guarding the female while she lays her eggs.

The number of stadia is not fixed and in good conditions the last larval stage, called F-0 can be reached in as little as 8 weeks.