Common Bluetail
(Ischnura elegans) Vander Linden (1820) Red Damsels and Bluets (Coenagrionidae) COBL 24794
Stor Farvevandnymfe (dk)Agrion Elegante (es)Större Kustflickslända (se) Synonyms: Blue-tailed Damselfly (gb) Common Bluetip (gb)
Measurements:
To 30-34mm Ab 22-29mm Hw 14-21mm
Flight period:
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
SE
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent Portugal, SW Spain, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and northern Fennoscandinavia. Also Turkey and scattered through Russia, Caucasus and the central Asian republics to Korean peninsula and Japan. In Denmark widespread in all regions.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Status:
LC(global) LC(eu) LC(dk). In Denmark widespread and increasing.
Comment:
Dijkstra and Schröter mentions the green males as immature. But I have photos of mating males that are green, why it is probably wrong to combine color and maturity when describing the species.
It is a female, the ovipositor just showing in photo 2. But is it then a teneral rufescens and not a rufescens-obseleta because it shows signal marking on top of S8?
I assume it is this form, with brownish pale thorax and no signal markings on S8-9. My first. I also expect some variation in amount of signal color. At least comparing with the one in Nordens Trollsländor, mine shows more than the one depicted in the book.
Imago ♂
I guess one of the most unexpected experiences with dragonflies, that I've had. Found this in the living room window, and I have absolutely no idea where it came from. We don't live near any suited localities, why it must have been straying. I released it at a small pond in Travbaneparken, a good kilometer away, where I've seen the species.