Shropshire Birder
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Shropshire
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Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum)
Favours slow moving water pools or ponds and quite localised in Shropshire and the months of June and July may prove productive! First impression is of a 'dark' blue Damselfly and on closer examination, it will be more slender in appearance. The darkness is due to the extensive black markings on the abdominal segment and thorax. The antehumeral blue stripes on the top of the thorax are usually incomplete and resemble a pair of exclamation marks! Be warned these stripes can be complete, especially in the females. The U shaped mark on segment 2 resembles a wine glass.
These two images show the classic exclamation marks quite nicely - note the 'vampire bat' on segment 9 ....
This male shows complete antehumeral blue stripes, otherwise similar features present....
Another male with complete antehumeral but the three lobed rear edge to the pronotum and wine glass on segment 2 confirm it is indeed a Variable Damselfly
Females come in two different colour forms. The image below shows typical mature 'dark' form with green thorax and base colour to abdomen. Note the coloured bridge between the eye spots, this is a useful indicator to distinguish Variable from Azure Damselfly...
Here are two more examples of female variable Damselfly, these are immature females.
A typical female 'blue form' which is similar to female Azure Damselfly but having more blue on segments 4 and 5...
A clearer image of female 'blue form' with blue markings as seen above. The 'more than 1/3 coverage of blue' on segment 4 and 5 with blue holds true...
A pair mating, note the (lower) female is the dark form with all black abdomen and green thorax....
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