Coenagrion pulchellum
| Variable damselfly | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Coenagrionidae |
| Genus: | Coenagrion |
| Species: | C. pulchellum |
| Binomial name | |
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Coenagrion pulchellum (Vander Linden, 1825) |
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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.
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.
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. (This distinguishes it from the Azure Damselfly which has the U-shape but no line connecting it to the terminal band.)
Male
S9 virtually unmarked
Male
shoulder stripe unbroken
Male
shoulder stripe just broken
Male
shoulder strip broken
Female
green-blue colour
The variable damselfly occurs throughout Europe. Scattered and uncommon in mainland Britain but widespread and common in Ireland.
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Wikipedia