The Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) is an insect in the Coenagrionidae family of dragonflies and damselflies. It is also known as the Common Bluet or the Northern Bluet.
The Common Blue Damselfly has a long, thin, cylindrical beige to cream body with a light-blue head and a light-blue bulbous tail. Its wings are long and translucent. The male is blue with black markings, and the female can be varied in colour.
It grows to about 3 centimetres (one inch) in length. Its wingspan is about 2 centimetres (about one inch).
It is common in Russia, Europe, and South Korea. It prefers still or slow-moving freshwater ponds. It likes to perch among reeds, water lilies, and lotus flowers. It is seen from May to September.
When it rests, it does not spread its wings like other damselflies in the Lestidaefamily. Instead, it rests with its wings alongside its body.
It eats small insect larvae.
The female Common Blue Damselfly lays eggs in vegetation on the surface of pond water. The eggs develop over the next few weeks. The eggs hatch into larvae. Over two months, the larvae grow and become adult damselflies.
Location of photographs: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM