Damsel IDs please

[Za]

Hello, I found all these at Bookham in Surrey today, could someone ID them please.

Not the best pics, but hopefully good enough for ID.

Thanks in advance

[Geoff F]

Yes the fine details are lacking but I would guess they are all variations of the Common Blue Damselfly. These are quite variable in colouration

[RoyW]

I would agree with them all being Common Blue. The third photo is the only one that I would say could possibly be something different - it may be an Azure (probably another Common Blue though).

[Za]

Thank you both, I find damsels very frustrating as blue doesnt necessarily mean its blue, azure doesnt have to be azure etc

[Geoff F]

And there can be considerable differences in colour between individuals of the same species.

As a very rough guide to the commoner blues:

Females usually have more black on their abdomen.

Look at the sides of the thorax. A wide blue stripe between 2 black stripes means a Common Blue; although the blue can be greyish or greenish yellow in females.

A narrow blue stripe probably means Azure or one of the 'associated species'. Also check for the 'Coenagrion spur' which is a thin black line that runs from the back of the thorax half way along the sides.

Then ask for directions because this is where things get complicated!

Very basically, look at the first clearly visible abdomen segment (actually segment 2). When viewed from the top, this segment of an Azure damselfly male has a thin U shaped black mark with a line underneath. Any other shape means it is probably one of the other and normally less common species which will need careful checking.

Females are more complicated.

But this is just very rough 'in the field' observations. For more detailed identifications you really need one of the excellent dragon/damselfly books. I recently invested a reasonably modest amount in the 2nd edition of Britain's Dragonflies by Smallshire & Swash.

[turkeyneck]

I've had my fun with damselfly ID but as another recommendation, I've recently purchased the 'Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland' by Steve Brooks and Richard Lewington. An excellant book. I've had the Moth one for years and that is good too, it still doesn't stop me totally having to put a pic on here for help with Id's though

[bripriuk]

Hi

I photograph every damselfly I can so I can try to ID them later. Strangely, I've shot about 30 or 40 in the last few weeks, and all but 2 have been definitely Azure.
Has anyone else noticed this?

Brian

[Geoff F]

Where I live, S. Devon, the blue forms are usually 90% Azure but I have just started seeing more Common Blues this year.