Enallagma annexum (Hagen, 1861)
Northern Bluet
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
Virginia State Rank: S1
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The Northern Bluet is a typical bluet with a mostly blue abdomen, the first eight segments increasingly ringed with black. The thorax is mostly blue with narrow black stripes. There are large blue eyespots. Formerly known as Enallagma cyathigerum. Its size ranges from 29-40mm (1.1-1.6 inches).
Similar species: The Northern Bluet is nearly identical in the field to Hagen's Bluet (E. hageni) and Marsh Bluet (E. ebrium), and requires magnification to separate these species. See illustrations in Lam (2004) or Paulson (2011). Also similar to the widespread Familiar Bluet (E. civile) and several others.
North American Range: The Northern Bluet is widespread throughout the west from Alaska to Baja California, and east across the northern United States and Canada. In Virginia, the only recorded sighting occurred in Highland County.
VA Observations by Locality: Highland | Highland
Flight season and broods: In Virginia, the Northern Bluet records extend from 6 June through 4 July.
Aquatic Habitat: The Northern Bluet occupies a wide variety of still-water habitats. In Virginia it has been recorded only from high elevation beaver ponds.
Behavior and Ecology: The Northern Bluet prefers fishless ponds.
Population trend and potential threats: The high elevation beaver pond habitat in Virginia is ephemeral.
Management practices: Monitor and protect occupied habitats.
References: Lam, Ed. 2004. Damselflies of the Northeast. Biodiversity Books. Forest Hills, New York. 96 pp.
Paulson, Dennis. 2011. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. Princeton University Press. Princeton and Oxford. 538 pp.
Roble, Steven M. 1994. A preliminary checklist of the Damselflies of Virginia, with Notes on Distribution and Seasonality. Banisteria 4: 3 - 23.
Roble, Steven M. 2011. Damselflies of Virginia- Flight dates. Unpub.