Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

Size: - Approximate Length 32mm Wing Span 36 -42mm.

Male: - The bluest of the blue / black damselflies. The thorax viewed from above bares two broad blue stripes. Just behind the wing roots on the second abdominal segment is a mushroom shaped symbol, the stalk of which may be absent. The upper surface of segments 8 & 9 towards the tip of the abdomen are all blue, often appearing brighter than the rest of the blue areas of the insect.

This narrative was kindly written and supplied by Mr Ken Crick

All Photography by Chris Brooks

Click on the thumb-nails to enlarge the images.

Female: - Has three colour forms, blue, straw and grey / green. All have black markings each shaped like a “V2” rocket on segments 3 to 7. Abdominal segment 8 exhibits a black triangular shape unique to females of this species.

Status: - Common and very wide spread throughout the United Kingdom.

Habitat: - Preference for large water bodies, lakes, flooded gravel pits, larger ponds, canals and the stiller waters of slow flowing rivers.

Flight period: - Mid May to mid September.

General: - Males & females can be encountered well away from water usually in stands of tall grass. Sexually mature couples pairing up before midday and making the trip, in tandem, to the waters edge to copulate and egg lay.

Other sexually mature males lie in wait at the waters edge to intercept any incoming female. Males on suitably large water bodies regularly fly in excess of

100 metres out over the water, moving fast and low, often in large numbers.

Egg laying usually begins in tandem but females are known to egg lay under water alone to depths in excess of 1 metre spending up to 1 hour below the surface. On returning to the surface the female can be too exhausted to escape the waters surface tension. All is not lost as a passing male may well drop down and rescue her.