Species account

Crescent Bluet (Coenagrion lunulatum) (Charpentier, 1840)
Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) [Dragonflies] CRBL 24789

Måne-vandnymfe (dk) Månflickslända (se)

Synonyms (common):

Irish Damselfly (gb)
cf. Coenagrion lunulatum)}

Synonyms (scientific):

Agrion vernale Hagen, 1839 (nomen nudum

Measurements:

To 33-36mm Ab 22-26mm Hw 16-22mm

Generations:

Flight period:

Identification:

Similar species:

Life stages:

Mating takes place in dry vegetation and lasts 10-15 minutes. In tandem the female inserts the eggs into stems and leaves of water plants while sitting on floating plants. The eggs hatch after 3-4 weeks and the larvae live in-between fresh water plants or bottom-material and develop during 1-2 years. The imago-transformation takes place close to the water low on the plants.

Distribution:

C and NE Europe; also large part of Ireland. Also Turkey and Russia through the continent to China and Kamchatka, included. In Denmark mainly C Jylland but also populations on Fyn, Sjælland and Bornholm.

Habitat:

Behavior:

Host plants:

Vandaks (Potamogeton)
Sø-Kogleaks (Scirpus)

Endemic:

Status

LC(global) VU(eu) VU(EU) LC(dk). Stable in Denmark.

Comment:

	1419 (6 photos) 2023-05-26 Hedeland (nature trail), Denmark Imago Male South side of water holes along Herredsfogedvej. A single male seen along the path along the bank. Interesting if the stepwise incrementation of the blue on the segments, from the tail to the head, is a specific character for the species. I think the blue upperside and the green underside is!
	2761 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Vandel Mark (Billund), Denmark Imago Male An individual with a very narrow shoulder stripe; almost like a pulchellum [Flagermus-vandnymfe].
	2760 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Vandel Mark (Billund), Denmark Imago Male
	2759 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Vandel Mark (Billund), Denmark Imago Male
	2758 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Vandel Mark (Billund), Denmark Imago Male
	2757 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Vandel Mark (Billund), Denmark Imago Male Classic male. Few present in a mix with cyathigerum [Almindelig Vandnymfe] and armatum [Hue-vandnymfe]
	2756 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male
	2754 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male
	2753 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male
	2752 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male
	2751 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male You probably have to see the animal from an angle below eyelevel to perceive the greenish underside.
	2748 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male Good classic male.
	2747 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male Good classic male.
	2746 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male Good classic male.
	2744 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male Showing the greenish underside that is characteristic for the male.
	2743 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male Hue-vandhullet. A nice little mix of species where armatum [Hue-vandnymfe] was the target. Also an ever-charismatic nymphula [Rød Vandnymfe].
	2742 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male A typical male with semi-round isolated eyespots, free-flying moon on S2 and little blue on proximal abdomen segments.
	2741 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male A typical male.
	2739 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Male A typical male.
	1418 (1 photos) 2023-05-26 Hedeland (nature trail), Denmark Imago Female South side of water holes along Herredsfogedvej. This animal became a lifer. However, in the field I just saw the glittering dark upperside to the abdomen and took it for a Large Redeye. Though a good distance away from the water, this would probably have been unusual. Checking the photos back home, it became clear that it was indeed a Crescent. Found on the trail along the ridge south of the lakes.
	2749 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Female A traditional female, but compare it with this female cyathigerum [Almindelig Vandnymfe] seen at the same locality, and understand that the finer details are often crucial to see when putting an id on these animals. See how the S8 shows the typical pattern, the abdomen is mainly black, the eyespots more round. The pale shoulder stripe, however, is only slightly narrower than on the cyathigerum, though the black line below it is definitely broader - as it should be.
	2750 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Female
	2755 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Female
	2738 (1 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Female Looking like a standard female.
	2736 (2 photos) 2024-05-12 Nygårdsmark-søerne (Finderup), Denmark Imago Female The patterns on S2 and S8 are typical for the female of this species. The pyramid shaped pale spot along the rear edge of the pronotum is also a good hint toward this species, as well as large elongated eyespots connected by a fine line.

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