Azure damselfly
Azure damselfly | |
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male | |
female (blue phase) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Odonata |
Suborder: | Zygoptera |
Family: | Coenagrionidae |
Genus: | Coenagrion |
Species: | C. puella
|
Binomial name | |
Coenagrion puella |
The azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) is a species of damselfly found in most of Europe. It is notable for its distinctive black and blue colouring. They are commonly found around ponds and lakesides during the summer.
Morphology
Adults
Males
Adult male azure damselflies have a head and thorax patterned with blue and black. They have an
Segments three to five are blue with broader black terminal bands, lacking the forward-pointing projection the upper surface which adult male
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immature
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juvenile
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young adult male
Females
Adult female azure damselflies have a head and thorax pattern similar to that of the male, but with glittering, glossy green replacing the blue coloring. The abdominal segments are largely black in coloring, with narrow pale markings at the junction between each segment.
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female newly emerged
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female, green form
Nymphs
The nymphs are usually green with browner wing buds and
Behaviour
Mature adults are seen frequently mating and laying eggs. It usually stays close to the vegetation around the pond or lake and flies from May to September.
This common damselfly looks very like a
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Freshly emerged withexuvia
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mating, female green form
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mating, female green form
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laying eggs,ovipositing
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laying eggs,ovipositing
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mating
References
- "Azure Damselfly". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
External links
- Media related to Coenagrion puella at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Coenagrion puella at Wikispecies
- Coenagrion puella - Azure damselfly
- Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella)