It is a lot shorter than the large red damselfly, with which it is sometimes confused.

Adults fly low and weakly, rarely going far from breeding waters.

Like the southern damselfly, which this species sometimes accompanies, they rarely fly in any but the warmest and calmest weather conditions.

It lays elongated eggs in submerged and emergent plants which subsequently hatch after about a month.

The larvae are very small, about 16–17 millimetres (0.63–0.67 in), and are found in acidic bogs, streams and ponds.