Are these common blue damselfly

[riggy]

These are my first attempts at taking this type of pic. I believe they are common blue but not sure. The reason I believe they are common blue is the lack of black on the second to last segment on the tail.

Any comments/suggestions or ID confirmations welcolme





Cheers

Paul

[RoyW]

Correct Paul.

Also if you look at shots of Azure Damselfly (or other Coenagrion species), you will see that they have an 'extra' short black line on the side of the thorax + narrow blue antehumeral stripes on top of the thorax.

The colours on the female in your shot are interesting - presumably it is a blue form female that is still maturing?!

Roy.

Edit; I missed the second shot. That one is a Blue-tailed Damselfly - black upperside to the abdomen with just one blue segment towards the end (8th segment).

[Hedge Witch]

The second shot is Ischnura elegans, a male I think.

[riggy]

Thanks for the reply the blue tailed was not in my insect book or my complete british wildlife book.

Just looked on the British Dragonfly Society website and amazed at the varietyin drogon/damsels

Can anyone recommend a good field guide


Paul

[Hedge Witch]

Hi Riggy, I think the following guide is very good:

Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland: Amazon.co.uk: Steve Brooks, Richard Lewington: Books

It's very clearly written with excellent illustrations, maps, descriptions of life cycle/habitat etc. It's brilliant for IDs, but there is also information about their biology and distribution, plus regional guides. And it's small enough to take into the field.

Hope this helps.

[riggy]

Cheers