Azure damselfly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Azure damselfly
male
female (blue phase)
Scientific classification

The azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) is a type of damselfly that lives in most parts of Europe. You can easily spot it because of its special black and blue colors. These damselflies are often found near ponds and lakes during the summer months.

Meet the Azure Damselfly

What Do Adult Damselflies Look Like?

Male Azure Damselflies

Male azure damselflies have a head and chest that are blue and black. Their main body, called the abdomen, is a bright azure blue with black patterns.

• The second part of their abdomen has a U-shaped black mark. This mark is separate from a thin black band at the end of that part.
• Parts three to five of their abdomen are blue with wider black bands at the end.
• Part six has less blue and more black.
• Part seven is mostly black, with only a small blue area at its base.
• Parts eight and nine are mostly sky-blue. This creates a bright blue patch that stands out.
• There are small dark marks on the back of part nine.

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  An immature damselfly

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  A young male damselfly

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  A young adult male

Female Azure Damselflies

Female azure damselflies have a head and chest that look similar to the males'. However, instead of blue, their bodies are a shiny, glossy green. Their abdomen parts are mostly black. They have thin, pale marks where each body part joins.

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  A female damselfly that just came out of its nymph stage

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  A female damselfly with a green body

What About Baby Damselflies?

Baby damselflies are called nymphs. They are usually green with brownish wing buds. They also have special leaf-like gills called lamellae that help them breathe.

Nymphs grow for about one year, or two years if they live in colder northern areas. They live underwater among plants. They eat small water bugs and other tiny creatures.

Damselfly Behavior

Adult azure damselflies are often seen mating and laying eggs. They usually stay close to the plants around ponds or lakes. You can see them flying from May to September.

The azure damselfly looks a lot like the common blue damselfly. But their behavior is different. Azure damselflies rarely fly far out over large areas of water. They prefer to stay near the edges. They are most common in June and July. You usually don't see as many of them in August and September.

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  A damselfly that just emerged, next to its old skin (exuvia)

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  Two damselflies mating; the female is green

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  Azure damselflies mating; the female is green

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  A damselfly laying eggs (ovipositing)

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  Azure damselflies laying eggs (ovipositing)