ExploreInsects

Double-striped Bluet

Enallagma basidens

The Double-striped Bluet is a small, beautiful dragonfly with bright blue colors and two black stripes on its body. These friendly insects love to flutter around ponds and streams, making them fun to watch!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Double-striped Bluet is a slender damselfly, usually with a bright blue and black body. Males are predominantly blue with two distinct pale stripes along their black thorax. Females often appear duller, with greenish or brownish markings instead of bright blue.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyCoenagrionidaeGenusEnallagma
Double-striped Bluet
striped trait badgesocial trait badgeaerial trait badgecolorful trait badge
Double-striped Bluet

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

A Double-striped Bluet can swivel its head almost 180 degrees to spot tiny flying bugs!

Their babies, called nymphs, live underwater for months or even years before transforming!

These damselflies form a unique 'mating wheel' shape during reproduction!

They are excellent pest controllers, gobbling up hundreds of mosquitos in their lifetime!

Special abilities

Ability

Super Sight

Double-striped Bluet has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying prey from far away with incredible detail.

Ability

Underwater Breath

Double-striped Bluet nymphs can breathe underwater using special gills, allowing them to hunt and grow in aquatic habitats.

Ability

Agile Aerialist

Double-striped Bluet can hover and dart quickly because of its four independently controlled wings, making it a master flyer.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
30-45 mm
Size
25-35 mm
Lifespan
20-60 days
Flight Speed
5-10 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

They gobble up tiny flying insects like mosquitos, and their young eat underwater bugs!

Age differences: Nymphs hunt small aquatic invertebrates, while adults prey on flying insects.

Primary Foods

  • Mosquitos
  • Gnats
  • Midges
  • Small flies
  • Aquatic larvae

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Adults prey on this mosquito.

hunts

Blood Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Adults hunt these soft-bodied insects.

eaten by

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Nymphs are a food source for fish.

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Adults are preyed upon by frogs.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Be gentle and watch from a distance. Don't try to catch them!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Double-striped Bluet's wingspan?

30-45 mm

How big is Double-striped Bluet?

25-35 mm

How long does Double-striped Bluet live?

20-60 days

How fast can Double-striped Bluet fly?

5-10 km/h

What does Double-striped Bluet eat?

They gobble up tiny flying insects like mosquitos, and their young eat underwater bugs!

Where is Double-striped Bluet usually found?

Wetlands

How does Double-striped Bluet hunt?

Pursuit

How many legs does Double-striped Bluet have?

6

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

More Insects