About Coenagrion pulchellum (Vander Linden, 1825)
This species is the variable damselfly, with the scientific name Coenagrion pulchellum (Vander Linden, 1825). Male variable damselflies have a distinctive "wine glass" marking on the second segment of their abdomen. This marking consists of a black U-shaped mark, with a black line that connects the U-shape to the narrow terminal black band of the segment. This marking distinguishes the variable damselfly from the azure damselfly: the azure damselfly has the U-shape, but lacks a line connecting it to the terminal band. The variable damselfly is distributed throughout Europe. In mainland Britain, it is scattered and uncommon, but it is widespread and common in Ireland.
