Field Notes: FAMILIAR BLUET
Familiar Bluet Damselfly
Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but typically smaller and more narrow. The Familiar Bluet is a very common damselfly, colored light blue with black stripes and patches along its body.
The mating behavior of damselflies is fascinating. As can be seen in this photo, the male clasps the female behind her head using a set of claspers on the end of its abdomen. The female then curls her abdomen and attaches to the male's secondary organ. The male actually has two reproductive organs. The first is near the end of its abdomen and is where sperm is produced. The male transfers sperm to the secondary organ closer to its wings before mating with a female.
Pair of mating Familiar Bluet Damselflies. The male is blue, the female is green-brown.