variable damsel?

[Ukwildlifeo]

Im a bit rusty on the blues as I only see azure and common where I am.

Went to stodmarsh, kent at the weekend and there were a couple of these females: a they variable?



close up crop of head and thorax + 2nd abdomen segment

[Geoff F]

Well it certainly seems to have a rather wavy pronotum and everything else also appears to be suitable.

But, like you, I normally only see the Azure plus an occasional Common so I'm just going by the book.

I will be interested to see what an expert makes of this one.

[aeshna5]

It looks like Variable to me. Stodmarsh is an excellent place for this species + on late April/May visits there this seems to be the most common blue damsel there.

A dorsal view of the pronotum shape is the best clincher for this species looking at the lobe structure.

[RoyW]

It's difficult to be completely certain from this shot because of the angle, but I would agree that it does look like a female Variable. As Aeshna says, Variable always seems to have been the commonest species when I have visited Stodmarsh so it's probably more likely than Azure anyway.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Excellent. Ive had probably variables before there but never been 100% certain. If it wasn't such a windy day i would have tried harder to get a better shot