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.

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. (This distinguishes it from the azure damselfly which has the U-shape but no line connecting it to the terminal band.)

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

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

Distribution

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

External links

• http://www.brocross.com/dfly/species/pulch.htm

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