Identifying a variable damselfly

[bugmeister]

One of the big problems with the three* commonly-encountered blue damselflies is how to tell them apart! Here is one I saw today that clearly shows markers for the variable damselfly, coenagrion pulchellum.

 

Marker 1.. the antehumeral strips form a distinct exclamation mark

Marker 2.. the black mark on segment two forms a goblet with a clear stem. (The azure just has the U shape without the stem)

Marker 3.. Segment eight is blue, but segment nine is mainly black

 

 

Canon EOS 5D mkII, Sigma 105mm f2.8 @ f8 @ 1/200s

 

*There are other blue damselflies, but the azure, common and variable are the ones we're most likely to come across

Northern damselfly is restricted to the Scottish highlands

Southern is very rare although there have been reports from Pembrokeshire as well as the new forest and a few other southern locations

Dainty damselfly is only known in a small area of Kent

[JohnP]

Am I right in saying that in the Common Blue the black mark on segment two forms a lollipop on a stick?

 

Nice capture BTW.

[bugmeister]

Yes John, sometimes described as a golfball on a tee or a lollipop

 

 

You can just about see it on this one, but I'll try to dig out a clearer picture

[JohnP]

You can just about make out the lollipop marking on the male Common Blue Damsel in this shot.

 

[Terry]

Thanks for that Bugs. Good information