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Common blue damselfly

Enallagma cyathigerum

Photo by sttweets
Published on Project Noah
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52.5655, 4.64844

Field Notes

Description:

The Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) is a species of damselfly found in most of Europe. It is remarkable for its distinctive black and blue colouring.

Habitat:

Close to water.

Notes:

I have a strong feeling that mating is not always between azure damselfly, but that they also mate with other damselfly like the ones with a red or green body. Anyone to confirm or deny?

Reference Links:

Common Blue Damselfly

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)
sttweets
@taka.ita, Oh yes, that is convincing. I'll go over all my other spottings of chasers, darters and damselfly. Thanks!
taka.ita
The Ducth wikipedia is not good enough. Check out waarneming.nl, especially http://forum.waarneming.nl/smf/index.php?topic=95517.0 But let's go through it, concerning the male on the photo. 1. the black markings on the segments are not prolonged on the sides (which azure damselfly has). 2. the light stripe on the shoulder is broader then the dark stripe next to it: typical for common blue. 3. the thorax has one, not two dark stripes, which also makes it a common blue.
sttweets
@taka.ita, What makes you think it's the common blue damselfly and not the azure variety? This one seems to have more black than blue on the back of the body, which (to Dutch wikipedia) would ID it as the azure one.
taka.ita
Not Azure damselfly, but Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
NicoleB
This is such a beautiful capture!
raulalsc
agree with Aislin :) is kind of romantic isn´t it ?
AislinnSemethy
amazing!! i love how it forms a heart! this is a lucky shot! great job!

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2011 Best Wildlife Photo

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PublishedJuly 23, 2011

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