Variable Damselfly

Coenagrion pulchellum

(Vander Linden, 1825)

National assessment

Stable Near threatened

Local assessment

Stable

National recording scheme

British Dragonfly Society

Associated assemblage

well-vegetated ditches, canals and ponds 2 other species in this assemblage

Last updated

2025-07-31

Statistics

Occurrences

381 since 2000 668 all time

Occupied 1 km squares

48 since 2000 87 all time

Earliest occurrence

1906

Latest occurrence

2024

Distribution

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Something missing?

If you've seen this species and want to report a sighting, head over to iRecord. If you're able to provide more context on the status in Greater Lincolnshire, habitat requirements or other information get in touch.

Occurrence since 1950

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This chart should not be relied upon for an indication of species status as variations in recording effort can heavily affect the count of occurrences and occupied 1km squares.

Threatened species recovery actions

Actions from Threatened Species Recovery Actions 2025 Baseline published by Natural England.

Untargeted habitat management

This species would benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages

References

Daguet, C.A., French, G.C. and Taylor, P. (2008). The Odonata Red Data List for Great Britain. Species Status 11; 1-34. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Taylor, P., Smallshire, D., Parr, A.J., Brooks, S.J., Cham, S.A., Colver, E.F., Harvey, M., Hepper, D., Isaac, N.J.B., Logie, M.W., McFerran, D., McKenna, F., Nelson, B. & Roy, D.B. 2021. State of Dragonflies in Britain and Ireland 2021. British Dragonfly Society, Old Weston, Huntingdon. https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/recording/state-of-dragonflies-2021/

Wilkins, T.C., Baker, T.G, Hipperson-Jervis, C. and Thompson, M. (2025). Threatened Species Recovery Actions 2025 Baseline Version 1.1 - Spreadsheet. Joint Publication JP065. Natural England and partners, UK. https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6106216194113536

Data sources

Local species recorders

Anglian Water.

British Dragonfly Society Recording Scheme. Dragonfly records from the British Dragonfly Society Recording Scheme. Licenced under CC-BY https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.

Environment Agency. Biosys Extract - Central, East, North Lincolnshire and Welland Sub-catchments 2005-2015 (INVERT). Licenced under OGL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3.

Environment Agency. Biosys Extract - Central, East, North Lincolnshire and Welland Sub-catchments 2016. Licenced under OGL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3.

Environment Agency. Biosys Extract - Central, East, North Lincolnshire and Welland Sub-catchments 2017. Licenced under OGL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3.

Environment Agency. Biosys Extract - Fenland Natural Area 1990-2011. Licenced under OGL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3.

Environment Agency. Biosys Extract - North Lincolnshire Sub-catchment 1985-2012. Licenced under OGL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3.

Environment Agency. Freshwater river macroinvertebrate surveys (Biosys). Licenced under OGL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3.

Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

Cite this page

Craythorne, H. (2025). Coenagrion pulchellum (Vander Linden, 1825) species profile, in Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (ed.) Greater Lincolnshire species data bank. Available at: http://glincsson.glnp.org.uk/view?taxon_list_item_key=NBNORG0000008966 (Accessed 08 November 2025).