Variable damselfly

Coenagrion pulchellum

The variable damselfly or variable bluet 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.
Coenagrion pulchellum Coenagrion pulchellum,Geotagged,Spring,United Kingdom,Variable damselfly

Appearance

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.
Coenagrion pulchellum. Dutch name "gaffelwaterjuffer" Just let them go! Coenagrion pulchellum,Geotagged,Netherlands,Spring,Variable damselfly

Distribution

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

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderOdonata
FamilyCoenagrionidae
GenusCoenagrion
SpeciesC. pulchellum
Photographed in
Bulgaria
United Kingdom
Croatia
Netherlands