Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum)
These are known as one of the 'Blue Damselflies' of which Somerset has 7 species: Common, Variable, Azure, Blue-tailed, Red-eyed, Small Red-eyed and White-legged. Identifying these species can be very complicated as they all have similar features and all have colour variations and changes in colour as they age.
Quite often the second damselfly of the season to emerge after the Large Red. Just from my own personal opinion, they seem to appear a good week or two before the Azures and any other blue damselflies.
These are listed as 'Near Threatened' but on the Somerset Levels you wouldn't think that, both Westhay and Ham Wall have these present in their thousands.
Males are blue and black damselflies with normally a broken shoulder stripe and a wine glass-shaped marking on the second segment of the abdomen and a blue line between the eyes. NB These features only sometimes occur and a combination of them really needs to be checked.
Females are blue and black or green and black and have two forms; 'Dark Form', which has a predominately black abdomen, 'Blue Form', which has a blue and black abdomen.
Immature ones can have a pink or white thorax.
Azure Damselflies are the hardest to identify them against, but all blues can be a bit complicated.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Both Males (Left one classic / Right one missing features)
Male and Female
Female (Recently Emerged - Thorax Pink)
Female (Recently Emerged - Thorax White)
Female
Female
Female (Dark Form)
Mating
Mating (Female Green Thorax)
Male Locked onto Female (NB Ticks on Female)
Having a Munch
In the Deadly Trap
Want to See
They can be seen in a variety of locations on the Somerset Levels.
They like static or very slow moving water.
Especially Good
SWT Westhay Nature Reserve - (Early May to Early June)
RSPB Ham Wall - Route 1 - (Early May to Early June)
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