Head to head
Blue-tailed Damselfly vs Azure Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
VS Azure Damselfly
The blue-tailed damselfly and azure damselfly are two of the most common damselflies around European ponds and ditches, with very different amounts of blue.
| Blue-tailed Damselfly | Azure Damselfly | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ischnura elegans | Coenagrion puella |
| Male colour | Mostly black with a single bright blue segment near the tip of the abdomen | Sky blue marked with black |
| Key mark | A single bright blue segment near the tail tip | A black U-shaped mark on the second segment of the abdomen |
| Female colour | Occurs in several colour forms, some blue like the male and some green, brown, or violet | Mostly green and black, or sometimes blue |
| Abundance | Widespread and common, and spreading northward in parts of Britain | One of the most abundant damselflies around ponds and ditches, where many can be seen at once |
| Season | Flies from spring to autumn, resting on low plants beside the water | Flies from May to August, resting among reeds and other waterside plants |
| Range | Europe, North Africa, and parts of western Asia | Europe, with a range reaching into western Asia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with a stable population | Least Concern, with a stable population |
Blue-tailed Damselfly vs Azure Damselfly: common questions
How can you tell them apart?
The male blue-tailed damselfly is mostly black with one blue tail segment, while the male azure damselfly is largely sky blue with black markings.
Which one has several female forms?
The blue-tailed damselfly, whose females occur in several colour forms, some blue like the male and some green, brown, or violet.
When do they fly?
The blue-tailed damselfly flies from spring to autumn, while the azure damselfly flies from May to August.