Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Azure damselfly

Coenagrion puella

Photo by The MnMs
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

50.8333, 4.66667

Field Notes

Description:

Adult male Azure damselflies have a head and thorax patterned with blue and black. They have an azure blue abdomen patterned with black markings. The marking on the second segment of the abdomen is U-shaped, separated from the segment's narrow terminal black band.

Habitat:

Grasslands around waterways, rivers and ponds.

Reference Links:

Azure Damselfly

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)
The MnMs
Thanks Bart! Is Ok Daniele, I also confuse many of my spottings. I learn a lot with it :-)
DanielePralong
bart.creemers. thanks! I stand corrected. Sorry Marta! I find these very confusing. Bart, would you mind checking mine and confirm that it is Coenagrion puella? Thanks! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6321346
bart.creemers
This is Coenagrion puella. The second segment has a clear U shape. The blue schoulder stripe (on thorax) is not clearly wider than the black side on the side of the thorax
The MnMs
Thanks1 keep checking..I am never sure I pick the right ID in special for plants and for insects.i am learning a lot with this web site. BTW, also your photo gallery is very nice (I am a follower!)
DanielePralong
Hi again Marta! Yes, I'd agree with your beautiful demoiselle. Would be nice to see the abdomen and the wings opened but short of this the ID is compatible with pic. You have a wonderful gallery!
The MnMs
the otehr one I named as beautiful demoiselle but is hard to tell because the shot is from above..am I right? thanks again for checking :-)
The MnMs
Hi Daniele. thanks! I changed it. I am no expert at all on insects and related and I remember having trouble between the two species to know what did I see. I have another damselfly picture which I am not sure I ID correctly. Could you take a look?
DanielePralong
Hi Marta, I think your damselfly may be a common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) rather than Coenagrion puella. They are easy to confuse. The male common blue damselfly has more blue than black (it is the the opposite for the azure), and the second segment of its thorax has a distinctive spot with a line below connecting to the third segment which I think I can see on your spotting. In any case it's beautiful!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Global Dragonflies & Damselflies
Mission
Biodiversity in Belgium
Photographed
PublishedJune 2, 2011

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies