Azure Damselfly
Coenagrion puella
The male is blue and black, with narrow blue antehumeral stripes. The mark on the second abdominal segment is a black, thin unstalked 'U' shape. The typical female form is very similar to the Common Blue Damselfly, but has no ventral spine. Another female form can closely resemble the female Variable Damselfly, so great care must be taken with their identification.
Whilst widely distributed in the county, it is not always present in big numbers, appearing to be more common in the south. It utilises a wide range of habitats from garden ponds upwards and is on the wing from mid-May to the end of August, but is best looked for in early summer, before numbers of the Common Blues build up.
It is widespread and common over most of England and Wales into southern Scotland.
Distribution map
