Enallagma weewa Byers, 1927
Blackwater Bluet
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
Virginia State Rank: S3
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: Male Blackwater Bluets are almost entirely dark-colored with a narrow pale blue ring at the end of the abdomen and gray on the lower thorax. The female's thorax is striped with brown and blue. The size ranges from 30-39mm (1.2-1.5 inches).
Similar species: None
North American Range: The Blackwater Bluet is primarily found in the coastal plain from southern New England to Florida and the Gulf Coast.
VA Observations by Locality: Brunswick | Caroline | Charles City | Dinwiddie | Goochland | Hanover | King and Queen
Flight season and broods: In Virginia, records for the Blackwater Bluet extend from 3 June through 24 September.
Aquatic Habitat: The common name, Blackwater Bluet, well describes its habitat, which are slow-moving streams flowing through swamps and woodlands with water stained brown by tannin from decaying vegetation.
Behavior and Ecology: The Blackwater Bluet perches low in the shade of overhanging streamside vegetation and can be difficult to detect. Adults apparently do not wander very far from immediate habitat.
Population trend and potential threats: The Blackwater Bluet is of conservation concern in the northern parts of its range (NatureServe, 2013)
Management practices: Maintenance of free-flowing tannin-stained streams of good water quality are a requirement for this species.
References: Lam, Ed. 2004. Damselflies of the Northeast. Biodiversity Books. Forest Hills, New York. 96 pp.
NatureServe. 2013. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: May 24, 2013 ).
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.