- Enallagma annexum
-
Northern Bluet 
Male, Ottawa, Ontario Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata Suborder: Zygoptera Family: Coenagrionidae Genus: Enallagma Species: E. annexum Binomial name Enallagma annexum
(Hagen, 1861)The Northern Bluet (Enallagma annexum) is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.
Contents
Identification
The Northern Bluet is a small damselfly with a length of 1 to 1.6 inches (26 to 40 mm) long. The male is predominately blue on the sides of its thorax, and the upper side of its abdomen.[1] Its lower abdominal appendages are longer than its upper appendages. The female's body is greenish-yellow to brown color. The upper side of its abdomen is mostly black.[2]
Flight season
Northern Bluets have a flight season of early May to July.[1]
Similar species
Like many bluets in the genus Enallagma many species look similar to each other. The Northern Bluet looks has similar to many bluet species.[1] They include the Boreal Bluet, Familiar Bluet, Hagen's Bluet, Marsh Bluet, and Vernal Bluet. It can be distinguished from Familiar Bluet by the large postocular spots and the shorter cerci. The characteristics shared by Northern and Boreal Bluets are their large eyespots, and a mushroom-shaped black spot on abdominal segment S2. Its best seen dorsally.
References
External links
- Northern Bluet, Monterey Odonata
- Northern Bluet, NJodes
- Northern Bluet, Cirrus Image
Categories:- Coenagrionidae
- Odonata of North America
- Animals described in 1861
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
