Common blue damsel fly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

A medium-small damselfly. The thick blue stripe on its thorax can distinguish it from other blue damselflies. The other common and similar damselfly, the Azure, has a much thinner stripe. With a little practice, picking out this difference in the field is relatively easy. Mature females have three colour forms: ‘blue’, ‘brown’ (which is often yellowish-orange) and typical (greenish).

The males are a drab pink/purple when just emerged, taking a few days to become blue.

However they can be distinguished from females by having solid blue on the bottom 2 abdominal segments.

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Willow emerald damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) Broad Centurion (Chloromyia formosa) Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) Common banded hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) Soldier fly (Chloromyia formosa)