Variable damselfly
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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, shoulder stripe unbroken
- Male, shoulder stripe broken
- mating, with female blue form
- mating, with young adult female blue form
- Female forms
- immature female, blue form
- young adult female blue form
- adult female, dark form
Distribution
The variable damselfly occurs throughout Europe. Scattered and uncommon in mainland Britain but widespread and common in Ireland.