# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Common Blue Damselfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Damselfly_05_%28MK%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mathias Krumbholz, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Damselfly_05_%28MK%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Enallagma ## 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 - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Common Blue Damselfly can dart and hover mid-air because of its independently moving wings, which helps them catch tiny insects. - **Underwater Hide-and-Seek:** Common Blue Damselfly nymphs have camouflaged bodies that help them blend into pond weeds, hiding from hungry predators. - **Super Sight:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — Young fish actively hunt damselfly nymphs. - **Eaten by:** [Barn Swallow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-swallow) (*Hirundo rustica*) — Swallows catch adult damselflies in flight. - **Hunts:** Bloodworm (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Nymphs actively pursue these aquatic larvae. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [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 gentle and watch from a distance, so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Blue Damselfly? 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 Common Blue Damselfly's wingspan? 40-50 mm ### How big is Common Blue Damselfly? 30-35 mm ### How long does Common Blue Damselfly live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Common Blue Damselfly fly? 7 km/h ### What does Common Blue Damselfly eat? These tiny hunters catch and eat small flying insects, like mosquitoes and midges. ### Where is Common Blue Damselfly usually found? Wetlands ### How does Common Blue Damselfly hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Naturpark Thüringer Schiefergebirge / Obere Saale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-thuringer-schiefergebirge-obere-saale) — Thüringen, DE · Park ## 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: [Common Blue Damselfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blue-damselfly)