Variable Damselfly - BugBotherer
The Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum), is a European damselfly. Despite its name, it is not the only blue damselfly prone to variable patterning.
Its behaviour is much like that of the Azure Damselfly; it usually stays close to vegetation. Immatures are often found in adjacent meadows or uncut grassy areas.
Description[]
The male Variable Damselfly has a distinctive "wine glass" marking on the second segment of the abdomen. This is a black U-shaped mark with a black line joining the segment's narrow terminal black band. (This distinguishes it from the Azure Damselfly which has the U-shape but no line connecting it to the terminal band.)
When the Variable Damselfly is active
Distribution[]
The Variable Damselfly occurs throughout Europe. Scattered and uncommon in mainland Britain but widespread and common in Ireland.