Coenagrion scitulum (Rambur, 1842), the Dainty Damselfly, is a blue damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. Length around 32mm, it is a small, black-and-blue damselfly. Both sexes appear yellowish when viewed from the underside. The pale brown pterostigma is longer than in other Coenagrion species. In the male, S2 has a "wine-goblet" shaped mark, occasionally reduced to a bar or crescent. S8 is blue but S9 has black markings towards the rear. S6 and S7 are entirely black. The female is blue with black "rocket-shaped" markings on the abdomen. Its main distinguishing features include the pale pterostigma, a preference for stagnant rather than running waters, and the thin black dorsal line on the female's S8. 

This species is easily confused with the other members of the genus Coenagrion and with the Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). Look at S2 (on the males) for distinguishing characters. The females can be particularly tricky to distinguish apart.

Coenagrion scitulum habitat in open but well-vegetated waters. It can tolerate some salinity.

The species is fairly widely distributed throughout Iberia and France and has scattered populations in Italy, the Balkans and Greece. But given its first-time-ever observation in the South of the Netherlands in 2003, the species may well be extending its range northwards from its Mediterranean home.  The species can be found also northern Africa and southwest Asia.
 
 
 

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