Variable Damselfly
(Coenagrion pulchellum)
A dragonfly in the Zygoptera suborder, a springtime species that flies slowly.
Distribution
Overall, the species is spread throughout Europe, except the extreme northern regions and Asia Minor. In Italy, it is present in Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino, and Friuli in its typical form, while the Mediterranean subspecies is widespread on the peninsula.
Description
A medium-sized damselfly, it has a characteristic thin, slender body structure. As for its colouring, the males in particular are almost all blue. Adults appear very early. They can first be sighted in early April, and as late as the end of August in the highest areas. In normal years, the species has already disappeared from the plains at the end of July.
Habitat
It favours stagnant water, both in the plains and in the mountains, where they can be found up to an altitude of 1600 m. Adults fly slowly with a slightly diffident nature. They rest often on vegetation surrounding the water and can be approached very easily.
Observation in the Torbiera Reserve
They have an uneven distribution, abundant only in limited areas. If the environment is particularly suitable, such as in the Reserve, they may even become overpopulated and the mass of individuals that can be seen in even limited spaces is amazing.
