Common and very, very blue

The Common Blue Damselfly, Enellagma cyathigerurm, is flying and perching now, skimming low over freshwater ponds and lakes or dodging the air currents over small streams. They are small, slender insects with bright blue bodies with black bands.

This one is a male:

They eat smaller insects like mosquitoes and their presence is a sign of a clean, healthy water environment.

Damselflies can be tricky to identify, so I’m grateful to know that the Common Blue Damselfly is easier to identify if you remember the phrase “The Common Blue is very blue”, according to my WildGuides Britain’s Dragonflies which my friend Olly bought for me. Thanks Olly!