Variable damselfly

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Variable damselfly
Variable damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) male.jpg
Male, shoulder stripe just broken, UK
Variable damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) female dark form Estonia.jpg
Female, dark form, Estonia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Coenagrion
Species:
C. pulchellum
Binomial name
Coenagrion pulchellum

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.

Contents

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]

Distribution

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

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<i>Enallagma cyathigerum</i> Species of damselfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded demoiselle</span> Species of damselfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large red damselfly</span> Species of insect

The large red damselfly is a species of damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to the western Palearctic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-tailed damselfly</span> Species of damselfly

The blue-tailed damselfly or common bluetail is a damselfly, belonging to the family Coenagrionidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish damselfly</span> Species of damselfly

The Irish damselfly or crescent bluet is a damselfly found in northern Europe and Asia to north-eastern China;. It is common and widespread in northern Finland, scarce and local in the Netherlands and Ireland and rare elsewhere. The Irish damselfly name comes from the fact that it is found in Ireland but not in Great Britain. The alternative name, crescent bluet, refers to the shape of the markings on segment two of the male and its scientific name.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azure damselfly</span> Species of damselfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dainty damselfly</span> Species of damselfly

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<i>Coenagrion</i> Genus of damselflies

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Chalcolestes viridis, formerly Lestes viridis, is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. Its common name is the willow emerald damselfly, the green emerald damselfly, or the western willow spreadwing. It has an elongated abdomen and pale brown spots on its wings and resides in areas of still water with overhanging trees.

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References

  1. 1 2 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.