©Richard Burkmarr
Azure damselfly
The azure damselfly is a pale blue, small damselfly that is commonly found around most waterbodies from May to September. Try digging a wildlife pond in your garden to attract damselflies and dragonflies.
Scientific name
Coenagrion puellaWhen to see
May to SeptemberSpecies information
Category
Statistics
Length: 3.3cmConservation status
Common.
About
The azure damselfly is a small blue damselfly that is very common around most waterbodies and can also be found away from breeding sites in grassland and woodland. It is on the wing from the end of May through to September. Damselflies do not fly as strongly as dragonflies, so tend to lay in wait for their insect prey before catching it in mid-air with their legs. They will return to their perch to eat their prey.How to identify
There are several species of small, predominantly blue damselflies in the UK, so identification can require careful study.The mature male azure damselfly is pale blue with bands of black along the body. One of the key features is the black marking on the second segment of the abdomen, just behind the wings. In the azure damselfly, this marking is U-shaped and not connected to the black band beyond it. Some similar species, such as variable damselfly, also have a U-shaped marking, but this is normally connected to the black band by a stalk, looking more like a goblet.
Female azure damselflies are mostly black on top, with green on the sides of the body. Occasionally, females may have some blue markings instead of green. They can be distinguished from the similar female common blue damselfly by the lack of a spine beneath the eighth section of their abdomen, and by the two black stripes on the side of their thorax (common blues have one stripe).