Variable damselfly

The variable damselfly or variable bluet (Coenagrion pulchellum) is a European damselfly. Despite its name, it is not the only blue damselfly prone to variable patterning.

Variable damselfly
Male, shoulder stripe just broken, UK
Female, dark form, Estonia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Odonata
Suborder:
Zygoptera
Family:
Coenagrionidae
Genus:
Coenagrion
Species:
C. pulchellum
Binomial name
Coenagrion pulchellum

Its behaviour is much like that of the azure damselfly; it usually stays close to vegetation. Immatures are often found in adjacent meadows or uncut grassy areas.

Description

The male variable damselfly has a distinctive "wine glass" marking on the second segment of the abdomen. This is a black U-shaped mark with a black line joining the segment's narrow terminal black band.[1] (This distinguishes it from the Azure Damselfly which has the U-shape but no line connecting it to the terminal band.)[1]
Male forms

  • Male
    S9 virtually unmarked
  • Male
    shoulder stripe unbroken
  • Male
    shoulder stripe broken
  • mating
    with female blue form
  • mating
    with young adult female blue form


Female forms

  • immature female, blue form
  • young adult female blue form
  • adult female, dark form

Distribution

The variable damselfly occurs throughout Europe. Scattered and uncommon in mainland Britain but widespread and common in Ireland.[2]

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References
  1. Brooks, Steve (1997). Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing. ISBN 0-9531399-0-5.
  2. "Variable Damselfly". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 27 May 2011.


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