The banded demoiselle is a graceful large damselfly with a butterfly-like flight and a wingspan of 50-80 mm. It is mainly found along slow-flowing streams and rivers. The flight period is May to August.
Mature males have a metallic blue-green body with a broad, dark band across the wings. Females have a brilliant metallic green body and the wings are tinted green with a white pale patch near the tip.
Males are usually territorial and perch on riparian zone vegetation in order to attract females. They court females by opening their wings and performing an aerial dance.