# Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) > A common small blue damselfly of still and slow waters in Europe, males blue and black, females variable in colour. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/azure-damselfly/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Non-toxic.** Azure damselflies do not have venom harmful to people. They can only deliver tiny, harmless pinprick bites if handled roughly; avoid grabbing them. No diseases are transmitted to humans. **Pets:** Harmless to pets. Pets may eat adults if they catch them, but damselflies are not toxic. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Coenagrion puella - Order: Odonata (Dragonflies and damselflies) - Family: Coenagrionidae (Pond damselflies) - Size: Body length 30-36 mm, wingspan 45-50 mm - Colours: Sky blue, Black, Olive green, Brown - Habitat: Still or slow-flowing freshwater with emergent and submerged vegetation: ponds, lake margins, ditches and slow rivers. - Range: Widespread across Europe into parts of western Asia; common in the British Isles and continental Europe where suitable habitat exists. - Active: Mainly spring to early autumn (May to September), most active in warm daylight hours. - Lifespan: Adults usually live a few weeks; the generation usually completes in one year (larval stage overwintering). - Effect on plants: Harmless - Pest: no ## Overview Coenagrion puella is a widespread, medium-sized damselfly found across much of Europe in ponds, lakes, ditches and slow-moving rivers with plenty of emergent vegetation. Males are a vivid sky-blue with bold black dorsal markings; females occur in several colour forms ranging from green or brown to male-like blue. Adults hunt small flying insects; larvae are aquatic predators that develop among submerged plants. They are harmless to people and beneficial as insect predators. ## How to identify it Adult males are bright blue with black dorsal patterns along the abdomen and a distinctive black 'U' or anchor-shaped marking on the second abdominal segment. The thorax has paired black stripes on a blue background. Females show colour polymorphism: common forms are green/olive with brown markings or brownish; some females (androchrome) resemble males. Wings are clear, narrow, and held together above the body when perched. - Male: bright sky-blue body with bold black dorsal markings and a distinctive black mark on abdominal segment 2. - Female: variable—look for the thoracic stripe pattern and shape of abdominal markings rather than colour alone. - Size and habit: small, narrow damselfly often perched with wings together above the body over aquatic vegetation. - Compare the pattern on segment 2 and the thorax stripes to separate from similar blue damselflies. ## Lookalikes - **Variable damselfly** (Coenagrion pulchellum): Very similar; male C. pulchellum has more black on the abdomen, a goblet- or Y-shaped mark on segment 2 and broken or very thin pale stripes on the top of the thorax, whereas C. puella has a U-shaped mark and complete blue thoracic stripes. - **Blue-tailed damselfly** (Ischnura elegans): Smaller and has a distinctive blue spot at the tail tip (segment 8 or 9) in males; females often show distinctly different colour forms. - **Common blue damselfly** (Enallagma cyathigerum): Similar blue-and-black look; male E. cyathigerum has a club- or mushroom-shaped spot on segment 2 rather than a U, and only one black stripe on the side of the thorax. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Females insert eggs into submerged plant stems or other aquatic vegetation; eggs hatch into aquatic larvae. - **Nymph (larva):** Aquatic nymphs are predatory, living among submerged plants for several months and usually overwintering before emerging the following year. - **Adult (imago):** Adults emerge from the water, mate, and the female lays eggs; adults are aerial predators and are commonly seen perched on vegetation. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Aquatic invertebrates: insect larvae, small crustaceans and other tiny aquatic animals. - Adults eat: Small flying insects such as mosquitoes, midges and other small Diptera and aerial invertebrates. - Predators of the young: Fish, aquatic insects (e.g. larger dragonfly larvae), amphibians. - Predators of adults: Birds, spiders, larger dragonflies and predatory insects. ## Effect on plants and gardens Larvae live among submerged vegetation but do not damage plants; adults hunt insects and do not feed on plants. ## Where and when to find it Adults: perched on emergent vegetation at pond and lake margins, ditches and slow rivers. Larvae: among submerged plants and sediment in the same waters. - Best time: May to September, during warm daylight hours (late morning to afternoon) on calm, sunny days. - Tips: Approach slowly and photograph from a low angle; a telephoto or 200 mm equivalent lens helps. Look for perched individuals on reeds and water-side vegetation rather than chasing in flight. ## Fun facts - Female azure damselflies come in several colour forms, including green or brown and sometimes male-like blue (androchrome). - Damselflies are among the most ancient groups of flying insects; their relatives date back hundreds of millions of years. - Azure damselflies often perch in large numbers on marginal vegetation when weather is warm and calm. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are azure damselflies dangerous? No. They are harmless to people and pets; they do not have venom and cause no significant injuries. ### Do azure damselflies bite? They can nip if roughly handled but bites are tiny and not medically significant. Avoid grabbing them. ### Why is this damselfly near my pond? They breed in still or slow water with vegetation; adults hunt small flying insects above and around ponds and lay eggs in submerged plants. ### How can I encourage azure damselflies in my garden? Provide a small pond or raft of aquatic plants, keep some marginal vegetation and avoid using pesticides; calm water and native plants attract them. ### How do I tell an azure from similar blue damselflies? Check the black pattern on abdominal segment 2 (azure has an anchor or 'U' shaped mark) and the thoracic stripe pattern rather than colour alone. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/51678), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azure_damselfly). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.