Species account

Flagermus-vandnymfe (Coenagrion pulchellum)    (Vander Linden, 1825)
   Damvandnymfer (Coenagrionidae) [Guldsmede]    VABL    24787
Variable Bluet (gb)   Agrion Variable (es)   Mörk Lyrflickslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Variable Damselfly (gb)
Synonyms (scientific):
Agrion interruptum Charpentier, 1825
Agrion bilineatum Schimer, 1913
Agrion nigrum Belyshev, 1964
Agrion pulchella mediterraneum Schmidt, 1964
Agrion saisanicum Belyshev, 1964
Agrion sibiricum Belyshev, 1964
Measurements:
To 33-38mm Ab 23-32mm Hw 16-23mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
Mating takes place in the vegetation close to the water and lasts 10-15 minutes. In tandem the female inserts the eggs into stems and leaves of water plants, while resting on floating plants. The eggs hatch after 3-5 weeks, and the larvae develop during 1-2 years. The imago-transformation takes place near the water.
Distribution:
Most of Europe, absent most of Iberian peninsula and northern part of Fennoscandinavia. Also east through Turkey and Russia to Kazakhstan (possibly China). In Denmark widespread and present in all regions including most islands.
Habitat:
In larval stage often found together with Azure [Hestesko-vandnymfe] and Spearhead [Spyd-vandnymfe] Bluets.
Behavior:
Host plants:
Tusindblad (Myriophyllum)
Pileurt (Polygonum)
Gul Åkande (Nuphar)
Vandaks (Potamogeton)
Endemic:
Status
Common in most of Denmark; less so Lolland and Falster. Stable and common in other Nordic countries too. Amager
Comment:
2025-05-01. Observation:/Question: Is female blue form more common early in the season? Or do I tend to ignore them later when there is more activivity. The ones I've registered are all from the start of the season.
Variable Bluet 504    (1 photos)
2021-06-08    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Individual with an extremely broken shoulder stripe, and a large amount of blue on the proximal abdomen segments.



Variable Bluet 669    (2 photos)
2022-05-23    Kongelundsområdet, Denmark

Imago Han
Straight forward to id, by the S2 marking. Among the damsels examined today this was the only the male I found. The majority were Azure.



Variable Bluet 704    (1 photos)
2022-05-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Variable Bluet 1930    (1 photos)
2022-06-04    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Variable Bluet 1926    (1 photos)
2022-06-16    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Variable Bluet 1925    (1 photos)
2022-06-16    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Variable Bluet 1924    (1 photos)
2022-06-16    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han




Variable Bluet 1356    (1 photos)
2023-05-07    Bastemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Han
Teneral.
Using Erland R. Nielsen as a first stepping stone into this world.

The long black spikes leading forward on the side of the abdomen and the colored S8 and only half S9 are good pointers to the species from this angle.



Variable Bluet 1507    (1 photos)
2023-06-05    Allgunnens Naturreservat (Kalmar), Sweden

Imago Han




Variable Bluet 1583    (3 photos)
2023-06-07    Valdemarsvik (Östergötland), Sweden

Imago Han
A narrow stem on the S2 marking and blackish on the side of the thorax makes it unusual, but even more so the way it holds the wings like a spreadwing.



Variable Bluet 2802    (1 photos)
2024-06-21    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Granatsø.
An individual with much blue on S2-3. Otherwise booklike.



Variable Bluet 3131    (1 photos)
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Den landskabelige kanal - vest.
One of the few mature colored individuals so far. Notice the lack of the pale line between the eyes.



Variable Bluet 3144    (1 photos)
2025-05-09    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Han
Fuglesangsø.
Perhaps there were two males, but when I first spotted one, I saw it as if it clearly didn't have any blue line between the eyes at all, but then taking this photo there obviously is a partial line...which is what to expect of the species...why I wanted a photo of the one wihtout it.



Variable Bluet 3174    (1 photos)
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago Han




Variable Bluet 1927    (1 photos)
2022-06-16    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun




Variable Bluet 1381    (1 photos)
2023-05-11    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
A typical dark form. The upper animal. The lower is a Common Bluet (Almindelig Vandnymfe). Only saw two of the species compared to 60 Common Bluets.



Variable Bluet 1380    (2 photos)
2023-05-11    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Blue form.
My first on Amager this year.



Variable Bluet 1520    (2 photos)
2023-06-06    Fjällmossen (Östergötland), Sweden

Imago Hun
Teneral but shape of pronotum reveals it.



Variable Bluet 2698    (1 photos)
2024-05-08    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Pumpehus-broen.
A young female. Only saw two today, and compared to elsewhere in Denmark, sjælland and jylland, it is an extraordinarily slow start to the season here on Amager. Still because of the cold southern wind coming in from the sea I expect.



Variable Bluet 3128    (2 photos)
2025-04-26    Holmegaards mose , Denmark

Imago Hun
The first of the year. Teneral.



Variable Bluet 3130    (1 photos)
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Den landskabelige kanal - vest. Blue form.



Variable Bluet 1928    (1 photos)
2022-06-16    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han & Hun




Variable Bluet 1929    (1 photos)
2022-06-16    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han & Hun