Boreal bluet facts for kids

Northern or boreal bluet

The boreal bluet (Enallagma boreale) is a type of damselfly. It belongs to the family called Coenagrionidae. These small insects are known for their bright colors and delicate wings.

What Does a Boreal Bluet Look Like?

Adult Damselfly

The boreal bluet is a small damselfly. It grows to be about 1 to 1.6 inches (26 to 40 mm) long.

• Males: The male damselfly is mostly blue. This blue color is seen on the sides of its body (thorax) and the top part of its tail (abdomen). Its lower tail parts are longer than its upper ones.
• Females: Female boreal bluets are usually greenish-yellow to brown. The top of their tail is mostly black.

Young Damselfly (Nymph)

The young boreal bluet, called a nymph, is also small. It is about 0.75 to 1 inch (19 to 23 mm) long. Nymphs have a thin body shape, like many young damselflies. Their color can be light to dark brown.

Where Do Boreal Bluets Live?

Boreal bluets can be found in many places across North America.

• United States: You can find them in states like Alaska, California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, New York, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin.
• Canada: They also live in Canadian provinces and territories. These include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Yukon.

What Kind of Places Do They Like?

Boreal bluets live near water. They like lakes, ponds, and marshes. They also live near streams that flow slowly or at a medium speed. These damselflies can live in many different places. This includes dry sagebrush deserts and cool mountain lakes.

When Do They Fly?

Boreal bluets have different times of the year when they fly. Some fly from early June to late August. Others might fly from late March to late September.

What Do Boreal Bluets Eat?

Adult Damselfly Diet

Adult boreal bluets eat many kinds of small, soft-bodied flying insects. These include:

• Mosquitoes
• Mayflies
• Small flies
• Tiny moths

Sometimes, they will even pick small insects like aphids off plants.

Young Damselfly (Nymph) Diet

Boreal bluet nymphs live in the water. They eat many different aquatic insects. Some of their favorite foods are:

• Mosquito larvae (young mosquitoes)
• Mayfly larvae
• Other types of young aquatic flies

How Do They Live Together?

The boreal bluet looks very much like another damselfly, the northern bluet. Even though they live in similar areas in North America, they are almost never found at the same body of water. Both species appear early in the season. Scientists are still not sure why these two similar damselflies usually stay apart.

How Do They Reproduce?

Male boreal bluets choose special spots near water to find a mate. After mating, the female boreal bluet lays her eggs. She places them in plants that grow in the water.

Similar Damselflies

Many damselflies in the genus Enallagma look very much alike. The boreal bluet is similar to several other "bluet" species. These include the northern bluet, familiar bluet, and Hagen's bluet.

One way to tell them apart is by looking at their eyespots. Boreal bluets have large spots behind their eyes. They also have a black, mushroom-shaped spot on the second part of their tail. This spot is best seen from above.

Are They Endangered?

No, boreal bluet populations are doing very well. They are found in many places and there are lots of them. Their numbers are strong and safe.