Slender Bluet damselflies (mating pair)

A mating pair of Slender Bluet damselflies (Enallagma traviatum) was spotted during a photowalk around Mulligan Pond at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge (JMAWR). This pair is “in heart“: the male is on top; the female is on the bottom.

14 JUN 2016 | JMAWR | Slender Bluet (mating pair, “in heart”)

This mating pair is my first confirmed sighting of Slender Bluet damselfly. Enallagma traviatum is classified as a member of Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies). The Genus Enallagma (American Bluets) is one of three genera in the Family Coenagrionidae that are common in Northern Virginia.

Notice the large postocular spots spots separated by a straight line that look like a dumbbell. The spots are darker blue for males; lighter blue for females. This pattern of post ocular spots may be used to differentiate Slender Bluet from the somewhat similar looking Blue-fronted Dancer damselflies (Argia apicalis): the eye spots are smaller and the straight line is missing for Blue-fronted Dancer.

It’s helpful to get shots of mating pairs of damselflies, especially “in tandem,” since males and females of the same species can look quite different. The excellent high-resolution digital scans by Gayle and Jeanelle Strickland, listed under “Related Resources” (below), provide clear views of male and female Slender Bluet damselflies.

Related Resources:

• Enallagma traviatum male #1 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]
• Enallagma traviatum male #2 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]
• Enallagma traviatum male #3 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]
• Enallagma traviatum male #4 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]
• Enallagma traviatum male #5 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]
• Enallagma traviatum male #6 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]
• Enallagma traviatum female #1 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]
• Enallagma traviatum female #2 (Slender Bluet) [full-size JPG] [digital scans]

Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Tags: adult female, adult male, Enallagma traviatum, Family Coenagrionidae, in heart, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, mating pair, Mulligan Pond, Narrow-winged Damselflies, Slender Bluet damselfly, wildlife photography