Azure Damselfly - Coenagrion puella
Best distinguished from the similar Common Blue Damselfly by the thinner blue stripes on its thorax. The female is much darker with mainly black markings on its abdomen interspersed with greenish rings.
The Common Blue Damselfly has thicker antehumeral stripes. Male Variable Damselflies usually have antehumeral stripes broken like an exclamation mark, however females are require careful examination of the body patterns to be distinguished.
Well-vegetated, sheltered habits are favoured, but these may take the form of ponds, small to medium sized lakes, slow-flowing rivers, canals and garden pools, but also along hedgebanks and woodland rides.
May to August
It has a one year life cycle, most of which is spent in the larval stage. The larvae sit amongst underwater vegetation and grab prey as it passes by, particularly midge larvae and small crustaceans.
Possibly the commonest of the blue damselflies. It is common in England and Wales, scarcer towards Scotland.
The Azure Damselfly is common and widely distributed in Leicestershire and Rutland.
The Azure Damselfly is widely distributed in VC 55, finding a variety of habitats suitable to its needs. Well-vegetated, sheltered habits are favoured, but these may take the form of ponds, small to medium sized lakes, slow-flowing rivers, canals and garden pools. Historical distribution mirrors these liberal preferences.
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Species profile
- Common names
- Azure Bluet, Azure Damselfly, Common Coenagrion
- Species group:
- Dragonflies and Damselflies
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Odonata
- Family:
- Coenagrionidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 625
- First record:
- 23/06/1949 (Wesley, Isaac)
- Last record:
- 02/08/2024 (Pugh, Dylan)
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% of records within its species group
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