Coenagrion scitulum
Coenagrion scitulum (Rambur, 1842)
Local names: Dainty bluet, Gabel-Azurjungfer, Gaffelwaterjuffer, Agrion mignon
Species Information
Description
One of the smaller Coenagrions. The males are light blue with black markings and bands on the abdomen. The pterostigma is shaped like a diamond (lozenge) and is brown-grey to yellowish in colour. S2 is characterised by a pattern like a Y with arms tending to open. The stem of the Y is always connected to the hind margin of the segment. It is very similar to C. caerulescens.
The females are blue-green with black markings. A correct identification of the females is difficult and can best be done by checking the shape of the pronotum.
Size
Habitat
Coenagrion scitulum is found at sunny, standing, and, more rarely, slow-flowing habitats with generally shallow water rich in hudrophytes. The presence of extensive aquatic vegetation is important and the species is most common at habitats with mats of watermilfoil and hornworths. The bank-side vegetation seems to be of minor importance and often consists of grasses or is largely lacking. Suitable habitats include oxbox lakes, ditches, cattle ponds and quarries. In the south of its range, where larval development takes place within six months, the species is also found in temporary waters. It is most common in the lowlands but has been found up to 1 100 m in the south of its range.
Distribution
Coenagrion scitulum is widespread in the southern half of Europe, being fairly common in mainland France, parts of the Iberian Peninsula and the largest western Mediterranean islands. It is scarce but increasing in Belgium, the Netherlands and parts of Germany. In Italy and on the Balkan Peninsula it is widespread but scarcer than in most of western Europe. The species is scattered and uncommon in the south of both Ukraine and European Russia.
Flight Period
April-May to August
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Coenagrion caerulescens, Coenagrion caerulescens
External Links
Genus: Coenagrion
Coenagrion is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly called the Eurasian Bluets (although three species are found in North America). Species of Coenagrion are generally medium-sized, brightly coloured damselflies.
Identification
Males are small blue damselflies with black markings. The blue areas may be partly greenish or whitish. Females have more extensive black markings, and are more often green or brownish. A damselfly with plain pterostigmas, with roundish postocular spots, with antehumeral stripes narrower than the black line below it, and with two short black lines on the thorax sides, will in most cases belong to Coenagrion.
Separation from other genera
Enallagma normally have antehumeral stripes wider than the black line below them and just one short black line on the thorax side. Ischnura males have bi-coloured pterostigma. Enallagma and Ischnura females have a vulvar spine. Erythromma species are darker, with reduced or no postocular spots, and males have red or all-blue eyes, whereas eyes of Coenagrion are blue with dark caps. The blue Erythromma lindenii is very similar, but differs in many details, like wider antehumeral stripes, an all-black upperside to S2 and a shorter 'tail-light' positioned further at the tip of the abdomen.
Behaviour
Males typically fly low among or along riparian vegetation. They rarely venture far from water. MAles and females in tandems often oviposit in concentrations on floating vegetation. The male often holds a conspicuous upright posture when in tandem with the female.
Family: Coenagrionidae
The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making it the largest damselfly family. The family Coenagrionidae has six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.
This family is referred to as the narrow-winged damselflies or the pond damselflies. The Coenagrionidae enjoy a worldwide distribution, and are among the most common of damselfly families. This family has the smallest of damselfly species. More than 110 genera of the family Coenagrionidae are currently accepted.
The family was named by William Forsell Kirby in 1890. The name may be derived from Greek coen meaning shared or common and agrio meaning fields or wild.