Variable Bluet
Coenagrion pulchellum
The 'variable' in their name refers to the highly diverse black markings on their blue bodies, especially the 'wine-glass' shape on the male's second abdominal segment.
- Scientific name
- Coenagrion pulchellum
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Odonata › Coenagrionidae › Coenagrion
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Densely vegetated ponds, fens, peat bogs, canals, and slow-flowing ditches.
- Diet
- Small flying insects such as midges, mosquitoes, and gnats; larvae feed on aquatic invertebrates.
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, Siberia
- Size
- Wingspan of 30-40 mm, body length of 34-38 mm
- Lifespan
- 1 year (predominantly spent underwater as a nymph; adults live only 2 to 4 weeks)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, water pollution from agricultural runoff, and loss of emergent bankside vegetation.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless to humans. They do not sting or bite. Feel free to observe them closely as they perch on vegetation; move slowly to avoid startling them into flight.
The variable damselfly or variable bluet ( Coenagrion pulchellum ) is a European damselfly. Despite its name, it is not the only blue damselfly prone to variable patterning.
Photo: odole, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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