Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella (Linnaeus, 1758))

Scientific name: Coenagrion puella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name: Azure Damselfly
French name: Agrion jouvencelle
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Coenagrionidae
Wingspan: 50 mm.
Biotope: Any habitat next to stagnant water, even in altitude.
Geographic area: Europe except most part of Scandinavia. Asia as far as the Caspian sea.
Flight time: Early April to late September with a peak in June and July.

The male's abdomen is blue with a black U-shaped mark on the second segment.
The ninth segment shows a E-shaped mark, but with many variations.
The thorax and the abdomen of the female are green with large black marks.
While mating, the male clasps the female by her neck by means of its anal appendages.
The female bends its abdomen to touch the male's reproductive organs. This is called the mating wheel.
While laying the eggs, the male holds the female by means of its anal appendages. The female lays the eggs under the leaves of water plants. This is called the "tandem" position.
The larvae, carnivorous, live under water, and moult into damselflies at spring.

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) - Yvelines, France - May 29th 2008

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