Key to the Swedish damselflies

This is a translation of Tobias Ivarsson's amazing "Trollsländor i Ulricehamnsbygden". It's a great honor for me to have the possibility to show this key here at "Swedish dragonflies". Ulricehamnsbygden. I have now, together with Tobias expanded this key to cover most Swedish damselflies, only the species that have been discorered the latest years in Sweden are not included Comments and corrections are very welcome by e-mail: petzon@petzon.se

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Problems reading the key? Maybe a look at The damselfy structure will help you.

1. Male (with accessory copulatory organs fig. 1) 2

Female (with egg-laying apparatus fig. 2) 21

fig.1. The accessory copulatory organs of the male

fig.2. The egg-laying apparatus of the female

2. Damselfly looks metallic green 3

Colors of damselfly are matt (red, blue, white, green, black, brown) or dark bronze 9

3. Damselfly looks metallic blue, wings at least partly colored blue, no wing mark Calopteryx 4

Damselfly is green or blue, with metallic bronze parts. Distinct wing mark 5

4. Wings almost totally blue Calopteryx virgo

Wings transparent with a blue stripe crossing Calopteryx splendens

5. Damselfly very tiny, wing mark almost as wide as long Nehalennia speciosa
Damselfly big, wing mark at least double as long as wide Lestes 6

6. Upper anal appendages big, the back side of the head is dark 7

Upper anal appendages very tiny (fig. 5), the back side of the head with a yellow edge 8

7. Upper anal appendages points straight backwards (fig. 3) Lestes sponsa

Upper anal appendages are curved towards each other (fig. 4) Lestes dryas

fig.3. Lestes sponsa, male, anal appendages

fig.4. Lestes dryas male, anal appendages

fig.5. Lestes virens, male, anal appendages

fig.6. Platycnemis pennipes, tibia

8. Wing mark one-colored, legs black with a yellow stripe Lestes virens

Wing mark two-colored dark/yellow, legs yellowish brown Lestes barbarus

9. Tibias are broad and flat (fig. 6), double shoulder line, color of Damselfly is white-pale blue Platycnemis pennipes

Tibias are not broad and flat, color of Damselfly is blue, green, black, red or brownish white 10

10. Wing mark nearer apex of fore-wing than hind wing Sympecma fusca

Wing marks at equally distance from apex of both wings 11

11. Head is dark on the upper part, at least eyes are red (at the mature ones) 12

Head with bright parts on the upper side, no red color at all 13

12. Abdomen red with black marks Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Abdomen colored black or dark bronze and blue Erythromma najas

13. Upper side of the second segment of the abdomen totally black, the spots at the upper side of the head circular Ischnura 14

Upper side of the second segment of abdomen blue, green or brown with black marks, the spots at the upper side of the head triangular, sometimes connected with a thin bright line 15

14. Eighth segment of abdomen colored at the upper side Ischnura elegans

Eighth segment of abdomen at least half black Ischnura pumilio

15. Thorax with a black line in the middle (fig. 7), shoulder line thin Coenagrion 16

Thorax without a black line in the middle (fig. 8) shoulder line often broad Enallagma cyathigerum

16. Lower anal appendages are very large (fig. 9), damselfly mostly colored green Coenagrion armatum

Lower anal appendages are small, damselfly mostly colored blue 17

fig.7. Coenagrion sp., male, thorax from side

fig.8. Enallagma cyathigerum, male, from side

fig.9. Coenagrion armatum, male, anal appendages

17. Third segment of abdomen with a black line at lower side (fig. 14), damselfly tiny Coenagrion johanssoni

Third segment of abdomen with a black line at lower side 18

18. Mark at third segment of abdomen tapering or blunted (fig. 10 and 11) 19

Mark at third segment of abdomen U-shaped(fig.12 and 13 20

19. Mark at third segment of abdomen tapering (fig. 10 check even mark at second segment Coenagrion hastulatum

Mark at third segment of abdomen are blunted (fig. 11), check even mark at second segment Coenagrion lunulatum

20. Tubercle at prothorax distinctive (fig 15), even check mark at second segment of abdomen (fig. 12) Coenagrion pulchellum

Tubercle at prothorax is distinctive(fig 16), even check mark at second segment of abdomen (fig. 13) Coenagrion puella

fig.10. Coenagrion hastulatum, male, second and third segment of abdomen

fig.11. Coenagrion lunulatum, male, second and third segment of abdomen

fig.12. Coenagrion pulchellum, male, second and third segment of abdomen

fig.13. Coenagrion puella, male, second and third segment of abdomen

fig.14. Coenagrion johanssoni, male, second and third segment of abdomen (side view)

fig.15. Coenagrion pulchellum, male, prothorax (side view)

fig.16. Coenagrion puella, male, prothorax (side view)

21. Damselfly with metallic glare 22

Damselfly colors matt (red, blue, white, green, black or dark bronze) 28

22. Wings colored, wing mark white Calopteryx 23

Wings clear, wing mark black (at adult species) 24

23. Wings brown Calopteryx virgo

Wings light green Calopteryx splendens

24. Damselfly very tiny, wing mark almost as wide as long Nehalennia speciosa

Damselfly big, wing mark at least double as long as wide Lestes 25

25. Back side of the head dark 26

Back side of head yellow 27

26. Prothorax with only dark spot at the back (fig. 17) Lestes sponsa

Prothorax with dark spot at the back and dark stripe at the side (fig. 18) Lestes dryas

27. Wing mark one-colored, legs black with yellow stripe Lestes virens

Wing mark two-colored dark/yellow, legs yellowish brown Lestes barbarus

28. Tibias broad and flat, color of damselfly greenish yellow, white or rust Platycnemis pennipes

Tibias not broad and flat, color of damselfly not white 29

29. Wing mark nearer apex of fore-wing than hind wing Sympecma fusca

Wing marks at equally distance from apex of both wings 30

30. Head dark on the upper part, at least the eyes are reddish (at the mature ones) 31

Head with light parts on upper side, no red color at all 32

31. Abdomen red with black marks Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Abdomen colored black and yellowish Erythromma najas

32. Lower part of eight segment of abdomen pricle-like and points backwards (fig. 19 and 20) 33
Lower part of eight segment of abdomen not pricle-like 35

33. Eight segment of abdomen with a pointed black mark (fig. 21), wing mark one-colored Enallagma cyathigerum

Eight segment of abdomen without a pointed black mark, wing mark two-colored Ischnura

34. Eight segment of abdomen black at the upper side Ischnura pumilio

Eight segment of abdomen colored at the upper side Ischnura elegans

fig.17. Lestes sponsa, female, prothorax (side view)

fig.18. Lestes dryas, female, prothorax (side view)

fig.19. Enallagma cyathigerum, female, segment 7-10 of abdomen

fig.20. Ischnura elegans, female, segment 7-10 of abdomen

35. Marks at second segment of abdomen looks like fig. 22 Coenagrion armatum

Marks at second segment of the abdomen mostly reaches the edge of the fist segment 35

36. Upper part of prothorax back edge straight (fig. 23) Coenagrion hastulatum

Upper part of prothorax back edge is not straight 36

37. Tubercle at prothorax indistinctive(fig. 24) 37

Tubercle at prothorax large and distinctive(fig. 25 and 26) 38

38. Second segment of abdomen with a black line along lower side (fig. 28), tiny species Coenagrion johanssoni

Second segment of abdomen without a black line along lower side(fig. 27) Coenagrion puella

39. Most upper tubercle at prothorax with a "corner" (fig 25), the whole upper part of the abdomen is dark, except for the eight segment segment Coenagrion lunulatum

Most upper tubercle at prothorax without a "corner" (fig 26), the upper part of the abdomen mostly with blue marks Coenagrion pulchellum

fig.21. Enallagma cyathigerum, female, eight segment of abdomen (top view)

fig.22. Coenagrion armatum, female, second segment of abdomen

fig.23. Coenagrion hastulatum, female, prothorax (rear view)

fig.24. Coenagrion puella, female, prothorax (side view)

fig.25. Coenagrion lunulatum, female, prothorax (side view)

fig.26. Coenagrion pulchellum, female, prothorax (side view)

fig.27. Coenagrion puella, female, second segment of abdomen (side view)

fig.28. Coenagrion johanssoni, female, second segment of abdomen (side view)

1.	Male (with accessory copulatory organs fig. 1)	2
	Female (with egg-laying apparatus fig. 2)	21



fig.1. The accessory copulatory organs of the male
fig.2. The egg-laying apparatus of the female

2.	Damselfly looks metallic green	3
	Colors of damselfly are matt (red, blue, white, green, black, brown) or dark bronze	9

3.	Damselfly looks metallic blue, wings at least partly colored blue, no wing mark	Calopteryx 4
	Damselfly is green or blue, with metallic bronze parts. Distinct wing mark	5

4.	Wings almost totally blue	Calopteryx virgo
	Wings transparent with a blue stripe crossing	Calopteryx splendens

5.	Damselfly very tiny, wing mark almost as wide as long	Nehalennia speciosa
	Damselfly big, wing mark at least double as long as wide	Lestes 6

6.	Upper anal appendages big, the back side of the head is dark	7
	Upper anal appendages very tiny (fig. 5), the back side of the head with a yellow edge	8

7.	Upper anal appendages points straight backwards (fig. 3)	Lestes sponsa
	Upper anal appendages are curved towards each other (fig. 4)	Lestes dryas



fig.3. Lestes sponsa, male, anal appendages
fig.4. Lestes dryas male, anal appendages
fig.5. Lestes virens, male, anal appendages
fig.6. Platycnemis pennipes, tibia

8.	Wing mark one-colored, legs black with a yellow stripe	Lestes virens
	Wing mark two-colored dark/yellow, legs yellowish brown	Lestes barbarus

9.	Tibias are broad and flat (fig. 6), double shoulder line, color of Damselfly is white-pale blue	Platycnemis pennipes
	Tibias are not broad and flat, color of Damselfly is blue, green, black, red or brownish white	10

10.	Wing mark nearer apex of fore-wing than hind wing	Sympecma fusca
	Wing marks at equally distance from apex of both wings	11

11.	Head is dark on the upper part, at least eyes are red (at the mature ones)	12
	Head with bright parts on the upper side, no red color at all	13

12.	Abdomen red with black marks	Pyrrhosoma nymphula
	Abdomen colored black or dark bronze and blue	Erythromma najas

13.	Upper side of the second segment of the abdomen totally black, the spots at the upper side of the head circular	Ischnura 14
	Upper side of the second segment of abdomen blue, green or brown with black marks, the spots at the upper side of the head triangular, sometimes connected with a thin bright line	15

14.	Eighth segment of abdomen colored at the upper side	Ischnura elegans
	Eighth segment of abdomen at least half black	Ischnura pumilio

15.	Thorax with a black line in the middle (fig. 7), shoulder line thin	Coenagrion 16
	Thorax without a black line in the middle (fig. 8) shoulder line often broad	Enallagma cyathigerum

16.	Lower anal appendages are very large (fig. 9), damselfly mostly colored green	Coenagrion armatum
	Lower anal appendages are small, damselfly mostly colored blue	17



fig.7. Coenagrion sp., male, thorax from side
fig.8. Enallagma cyathigerum, male, from side
fig.9. Coenagrion armatum, male, anal appendages

17.	Third segment of abdomen with a black line at lower side (fig. 14), damselfly tiny	Coenagrion johanssoni
	Third segment of abdomen with a black line at lower side	18

18.	Mark at third segment of abdomen tapering or blunted (fig. 10 and 11)	19
	Mark at third segment of abdomen U-shaped(fig.12 and 13	20

19.	Mark at third segment of abdomen tapering (fig. 10 check even mark at second segment	Coenagrion hastulatum
	Mark at third segment of abdomen are blunted (fig. 11), check even mark at second segment	Coenagrion lunulatum

20.	Tubercle at prothorax distinctive (fig 15), even check mark at second segment of abdomen (fig. 12)	Coenagrion pulchellum
	Tubercle at prothorax is distinctive(fig 16), even check mark at second segment of abdomen (fig. 13)	Coenagrion puella



fig.10. Coenagrion hastulatum, male, second and third segment of abdomen
fig.11. Coenagrion lunulatum, male, second and third segment of abdomen
fig.12. Coenagrion pulchellum, male, second and third segment of abdomen
fig.13. Coenagrion puella, male, second and third segment of abdomen
fig.14. Coenagrion johanssoni, male, second and third segment of abdomen (side view)
fig.15. Coenagrion pulchellum, male, prothorax (side view)
fig.16. Coenagrion puella, male, prothorax (side view)

21.	Damselfly with metallic glare	22
	Damselfly colors matt (red, blue, white, green, black or dark bronze)	28

22.	Wings colored, wing mark white	Calopteryx 23
	Wings clear, wing mark black (at adult species)	24

23.	Wings brown	Calopteryx virgo
	Wings light green	Calopteryx splendens

24.	Damselfly very tiny, wing mark almost as wide as long	Nehalennia speciosa
	Damselfly big, wing mark at least double as long as wide	Lestes 25

25.	Back side of the head dark	26
	Back side of head yellow	27

26.	Prothorax with only dark spot at the back (fig. 17)	Lestes sponsa
	Prothorax with dark spot at the back and dark stripe at the side (fig. 18)	Lestes dryas

27.	Wing mark one-colored, legs black with yellow stripe	Lestes virens
	Wing mark two-colored dark/yellow, legs yellowish brown	Lestes barbarus

28.	Tibias broad and flat, color of damselfly greenish yellow, white or rust	Platycnemis pennipes
	Tibias not broad and flat, color of damselfly not white	29

29.	Wing mark nearer apex of fore-wing than hind wing	Sympecma fusca
	Wing marks at equally distance from apex of both wings	30

30.	Head dark on the upper part, at least the eyes are reddish (at the mature ones)	31
	Head with light parts on upper side, no red color at all	32

31.	Abdomen red with black marks	Pyrrhosoma nymphula
	Abdomen colored black and yellowish	Erythromma najas

32.	Lower part of eight segment of abdomen pricle-like and points backwards (fig. 19 and 20)	33
	Lower part of eight segment of abdomen not pricle-like	35

33.	Eight segment of abdomen with a pointed black mark (fig. 21), wing mark one-colored	Enallagma cyathigerum
	Eight segment of abdomen without a pointed black mark, wing mark two-colored	Ischnura

34.	Eight segment of abdomen black at the upper side	Ischnura pumilio
	Eight segment of abdomen colored at the upper side	Ischnura elegans



fig.17. Lestes sponsa, female, prothorax (side view)
fig.18. Lestes dryas, female, prothorax (side view)
fig.19. Enallagma cyathigerum, female, segment 7-10 of abdomen
fig.20. Ischnura elegans, female, segment 7-10 of abdomen

35.	Marks at second segment of abdomen looks like fig. 22	Coenagrion armatum
	Marks at second segment of the abdomen mostly reaches the edge of the fist segment	35

36.	Upper part of prothorax back edge straight (fig. 23)	Coenagrion hastulatum
	Upper part of prothorax back edge is not straight	36

37.	Tubercle at prothorax indistinctive(fig. 24)	37
	Tubercle at prothorax large and distinctive(fig. 25 and 26)	38

38.	Second segment of abdomen with a black line along lower side (fig. 28), tiny species	Coenagrion johanssoni
	Second segment of abdomen without a black line along lower side(fig. 27)	Coenagrion puella

39.	Most upper tubercle at prothorax with a "corner" (fig 25), the whole upper part of the abdomen is dark, except for the eight segment segment	Coenagrion lunulatum
	Most upper tubercle at prothorax without a "corner" (fig 26), the upper part of the abdomen mostly with blue marks	Coenagrion pulchellum



fig.21. Enallagma cyathigerum, female, eight segment of abdomen (top view)
fig.22. Coenagrion armatum, female, second segment of abdomen
fig.23. Coenagrion hastulatum, female, prothorax (rear view)
fig.24. Coenagrion puella, female, prothorax (side view)
fig.25. Coenagrion lunulatum, female, prothorax (side view)
fig.26. Coenagrion pulchellum, female, prothorax (side view)
fig.27. Coenagrion puella, female, second segment of abdomen (side view)
fig.28. Coenagrion johanssoni, female, second segment of abdomen (side view)

Page updated June 21 2008

	Copyright © 2004-2008 Martin Peterson