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skimming bluet

skimming bluet (Enallagma geminatum) [female] [male]
Photos © Mary Kay Rubey

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The skimming bluet is a small (about one inch long), black and blue damselfly. They have brown eyes with a distinct blue streak, small spots behind the eyes, and long black legs. Males have mostly black abdomens with waxy, blue lines at the base. Females have lighter eyes, and stouter, abdomens that are cream colored underneath. Most bluets look very similar, but the skimming bluet is distinguished by the blue streak of color in their eye and the tip of the abdomen is completely black. The turquoise bluet (Enallagma divagans) is similar, but smaller; occurs on ponds rather than streams; and is set apart by a pair of connected, blue spots on the top of the head behind the eyes. 

BEHAVIOR
The skimming bluet lives near lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams with lots of aquatic vegetation. They fly statewide from May to September. Males fly near the surface of the water, “skimming” it. Mating happens in shrubs away from the water and females deposit eggs in floating aquatic vegetation.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Coenagrionidae

Illinois Status: common, native