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Variable damselfly facts for kids

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Variable damselfly
Variable damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) male.jpg
Male, shoulder stripe just broken, UK
Variable damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) female dark form Estonia.jpg
Female, dark form, Estonia
Scientific classification

The variable damselfly or variable bluet (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.)

Distribution

The variable damselfly occurs throughout Europe. Scattered and uncommon in mainland Britain but widespread and common in Ireland.

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