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Species Information:
Length: 32mm
Flight Period: June to July
Both sexes appear yellowish when viewed from the underside. The pale brown pterostigma is longer than in other Coenagrion species.
Male: segment 2 has a "wine-goblet" shaped mark, occasionally reduced to a bar or crescent. Segment 8 is blue but segment 9 has black markings towards the rear. Segment 6 and segment 7 are entirely black.
Female: blue with black "rocket-shaped" markings on the abdomen.
Habitat:
Open but well-vegetated waters. It can tolerate some salinity.
Status & Distribution:
Found in Essex during 1946–1952, when its known breeding sites were then destroyed during the catastrophic floods of winter 1952–53. Recently (June 2010) re-discovered in Kent, where apparently breeding (two exuviae found).
Similar Species:
This species is easily confused with the other members of the genus Coenagrion and with the Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). Look at S2 (on the males) for distinguishing characters. The females can be particularly tricky to distinguish apart.
