Stream bluet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stream bluet
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Family:	Coenagrionidae
Genus:	Enallagma
Species:	E. exsulans
Binomial name
Enallagma exsulans (Hagen, 1861)

The stream bluet (Enallagma exsulans) is a type of damselfly found in America. It belongs to a group called "bluet damselflies." These insects are known for their slender bodies and colorful wings.

Stream bluets are about 29 to 37 millimeters long. That's roughly the length of a few paper clips! Unlike many other bluet damselflies that like still water, stream bluets prefer moving water. You can often spot them near small or medium-sized rivers. Sometimes, they are also seen near lakes.

Most male damselflies have a blue tip on their tail (abdomen). What's special about the stream bluet is that the female also has a blue tip! The best time to see these interesting insects is during the summer months.

Taken in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Where Stream Bluets Live

Stream bluets can be found across a wide area in North America. They live in many different states in the United States. They also live in parts of Canada.

United States Homes

You can find stream bluets in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and Florida. They also live in Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky. Other states include Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Canadian Homes

In Canada, stream bluets make their homes in the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec.

How to Spot a Stream Bluet

Stream bluets look a lot like other damselflies. They are especially similar to turquoise bluets. Both have slender bodies and delicate wings. However, stream bluets are often found near moving water, which helps tell them apart. Remember, both male and female stream bluets have a blue tip on their abdomen!