Common Name – Familiar Bluet

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Odonata

Family: Coenagrionidae

Enallagma civile, commonly known as the Familiar Bluet, is a widespread damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. Native to North America, it inhabits a variety of freshwater environments including ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams.

These habitats are typically rich in aquatic vegetation, which provides shelter and breeding grounds. The life cycle of E. civile includes an aquatic nymphal stage and a terrestrial adult stage. Nymphs, or naiads, live underwater for several months, where they are voracious predators feeding on small aquatic invertebrates such as mosquito larvae and tiny crustaceans.

They undergo multiple molts before emerging as winged adults. Adult familiar bluets are slender, with males displaying bright blue and black coloration, while females vary from blue to tan. Adults are agile fliers and are often seen perching on vegetation near water. They feed on small flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and gnats, playing a role in controlling pest populations.

E. civile is active from late spring through early fall, with peak activity in summer. Its adaptability to various aquatic habitats and tolerance for human-altered environments contribute to its widespread distribution and stable population status.