Male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon, on May 31st 2010. Approx 5.4x lifesize.
Male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon, on May 31st 2010. Click image for larger version.
(1/50th sec at F10. Approx 3.25x life size.)
Male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon, on May 31st 2010. Approx 4.25x lifesize.
Male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon, on May 31st 2010. Click image for larger version.
(1/125th sec at F10. Approx 2.5x life size.)
Female Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon, on May 14th 2011. Approx 4.25x lifesize.
Female. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon, on May 14th 2011. Click image for larger version.
(1/100th sec at F11. Approx 2.5x life size.)
Female Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). Taken at Seven Barrows, Berks, on May 7th 2011. Approx 4.25x lifesize.
Female. Taken at Seven Barrows, Berks, on May 7th 2011. Click image for larger version.
(1/200th sec at F14. Approx 2.5x life size.)
Common Blue Damselfly mating wheel (Enallagma cyathigerum). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon on May 31st 2009. Approx 4.25x lifesize.
Mating wheel. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon on May 31st 2009. Click image for larger version.
(1/125th sec at F9. Approx 2x life size.)
© David Hastings
Description
Wingspan: 30 - 42 mm; body length 29 - 36 mm
This is the most widely distributed and often the most abundant Damselfly. It is found in a wide range of habitats with either
still or flowing water.
The Common Blue Damselfly shares its blue
and black colouration with several other species. It can be distinguished from them by its broad
ante-humeral stripes and the lack of the
Coenagrion spur on the side of the thorax. In the male, segment 2 has a characteristic mark
of a spot linked to the inter-segment suture by a short line. Segments 8 and 9 are entirely blue.
The female occurs in two colour forms, one blue, as in the male, the other dull green or brown. The mark on segment 2
is thistle-shaped and there is a stepped triangle on segment 8. It has an obvious spine in front of the ovipositor, under S8.
This species is found throughout Britain and Europe. All types of ponds, lakes and slow rivers are used. It can also
tolerate acid conditions. Larvae take a year to develop in the south, but two or more years in the north. Adults are usually on the
wing from late April to September.
Sightings
| 04-Sep-2011 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon (20+) |
| 29-Aug-2011 | : | Otmoor, Oxon (3) |
| 12-Aug-2011 | : | Otmoor, Oxon (2) |
| 07-Aug-2011 | : | Wicken Wood, Northants (3) |
| 31-Jul-2011 | : | Parsonage Moor, Oxon (6) |
| 24-Jul-2010 | : | Otmoor, Oxon (30+) |
| 24-Jul-2011 | : | Sydlings Copse/bridleway (2) |
| 23-Jul-2011 | : | Bowdown Wood, Berks (4) |
| 23-Jul-2011 | : | Greenham Common, Berks (5) |
| 14-Jul-2011 | : | Thrupp Lake, Oxon (80+) |
| 02-Jul-2011 | : | Otmoor, Oxon (4) |
| 19-Jun-2011 | : | Bowdown Wood, Berks (5) |
| 18-Jun-2011 | : | Farmoor, Oxon (2) |
| 11-Jun-2011 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2) |
| 11-Jun-2011 | : | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (2) |
| 14-May-2011 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon (6) |
| 07-May-2011 | : | Seven Barrows, Berks (1) |
| 02-May-2011 | : | Farmoor, Oxon (20+) |
| 25-Apr-2011 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos (30+) |
| 23-Apr-2011 | : | Abingdon, Oxon (1) |
|
| 04-Jul-2010 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon |
| 22-Jun-2010 | : | Bullfield Lake, Oxon |
| 20-Jun-2010 | : | Chimney Meadow, Oxon |
| 12-Jun-2010 | : | Farmoor, Oxon |
| 06-Jun-2010 | : | Farmoor, Oxon |
| 31-May-2010 | : | Farmoor, Oxon |
| 21-May-2010 | : | Otmoor, Oxon |
|
| 22-Aug-2009 | : | Otmoor, Oxon |
| 16-Aug-2009 | : | Pinkhill, Oxon |
| 02-Aug-2009 | : | Otmoor, Oxon |
| 14-Jul-2009 | : | Kew Gardens |
| 05-Jul-2009 | : | Otmoor, Oxon |
| 27-Jun-2009 | : | Stanford Dingley, Berks |
| 21-Jun-2009 | : | Pinkhill, Oxon |
| 31-May-2009 | : | Otmoor, Oxon |
| 09-May-2009 | : | Pinkhill, Oxon |
