# Big Bluet (*Enallagma durum*) The Big Bluet is a beautiful dragonfly with bright blue colors. They love to fly around water and are fun to watch as they zip through the air! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Big Bluet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Big_Bluet_-_Enallagma_durum%252C_Leesylvania_State_Park%252C_Woodbridge%252C_Virginia_-_7538391804.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Bluet_-_Enallagma_durum%252C_Leesylvania_State_Park%252C_Woodbridge%252C_Virginia_-_7538391804.jpg) ## Appearance The Big Bluet has a slender body, often bright blue and black markings, and two pairs of clear, delicate wings. Its large, widely spaced eyes allow for excellent vision. It's noticeably larger than other bluet damselflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Enallagma ## Interesting facts - Big Bluets spend most of their life as nymphs, hunting in ponds. - Damselflies cannot sting people; they are completely harmless! - Males have a unique 'Mickey Mouse' pattern on their blue tails. - They clean the air by eating thousands of annoying mosquitoes. ## Special abilities - **Underwater Warrior:** Big Bluet larvae can hunt underwater using a special hinged jaw called a labium, which helps them ambush prey. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Big Bluet can fly with incredible agility, darting and hovering to catch tiny flying insects in mid-air. - **All-Around Vision:** Big Bluet has huge compound eyes that allow them to see almost 360 degrees, helping them spot both prey and predators. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-55 mm - **Size:** 30-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-730 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These agile hunters feast on small insects, both in the air and under the water as larvae! - **Age differences:** Larvae hunt underwater; adults catch flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, small flies, midges, aquatic insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Yellow Fever Mosquito](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-fever-mosquito) (*Aedes aegypti*) — Adult Big Bluets prey on these. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Rana catesbeiana*) — Bullfrogs often snatch adult damselflies. - **Eaten by:** Bluegill Sunfish (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Fish commonly eat damselfly nymphs. - **Shelter:** Common Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Provides resting spots and egg-laying sites. ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to catch dragonflies; they are best enjoyed flying around! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Big Bluet? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Big Bluet's wingspan? 40-55 mm ### How big is Big Bluet? 30-45 mm ### How long does Big Bluet live? 365-730 days ### How fast can Big Bluet fly? 10 km/h ### What does Big Bluet eat? These agile hunters feast on small insects, both in the air and under the water as larvae! ### Where is Big Bluet usually found? Wetlands ### How does Big Bluet hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Occoquan Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/occoquan-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Big Bluet: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-bluet)