Common Blue Damselfly

Enallagma cyathigerum

The Common Blue Damselfly is a beautiful little insect with bright blue wings. It loves to flutter around near ponds and streams, making it a fun sight to see on sunny days!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Common Blue Damselfly has a slender, bright blue body in males, often with a distinctive black U-shaped mark on its abdomen. Its four clear wings fold neatly together over its back when resting. Females are typically duller, appearing green or brown.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyCoenagrionidaeGenusEnallagma

Common Blue Damselfly

Interesting facts

Baby damselflies breathe underwater using feathery gills on their tails!

Males grab females in a 'heart-shape' to protect them while laying eggs!

Males have a unique black 'exclamation mark' pattern on their blue body!

They fold their wings neatly over their back, unlike their dragonfly cousins!

Special abilities

Common Blue Damselfly can dart and hover mid-air because of its independently moving wings, which helps them catch tiny insects.

Common Blue Damselfly nymphs have camouflaged bodies that help them blend into pond weeds, hiding from hungry predators.

Common Blue Damselfly has large compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects from far away.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 40-50 mm
Size: 30-35 mm
Lifespan: 14-28 days
Flight Speed: 7 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These tiny hunters catch and eat small flying insects, like mosquitoes and midges.

Age differences: Nymphs hunt smaller aquatic invertebrates like water fleas and mosquito larvae.

Primary Foods

Mosquitoes
Midges
Small Flies
Aphids

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Common Frog

Rana temporaria

An easy meal for hungry amphibians.

eaten by

European Perch

Perca fluviatilis

Young fish actively hunt damselfly nymphs.

eaten by

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Swallows catch adult damselflies in flight.

hunts

Bloodworm

Chironomus plumosus

Nymphs actively pursue these aquatic larvae.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

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.