A Familiar Bluet in Harford Co., Maryland (6/22/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A late flying Familiar Bluet in Howard Co., Maryland (11/10/2012).

Photo by Bonnie Ott MBP List

A Familiar Bluet in Harford Co., Maryland (6/13/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Addicks MBP List

A Familiar Bluet in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (6/29/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Ben Springer MBP List

A Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/1/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Jason Avery MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/15/2020). (c) jasoneavery, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 293421 - Psn: 25)

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/15/2020). (c) jasoneavery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jason Avery MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 415614 - Psn: 25)

Familiar Bluet in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Harford Co., Maryland (8/31/2011). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 799292 - Psn: 25)

View Record Details Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Familiar Bluets in wheel in Harford Co., Maryland (6/13/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Addicks MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/22/2023). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 921526 - Psn: 35)

Familiar Bluet in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/22/2023). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist MBP List

Familiar Bluets in mid-October in Howard Co., Maryland (10/15/2013).

Photo by Richard Orr MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/2/2021). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 595991 - Psn: 50)

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/2/2021). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jason Avery MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/16/2023). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 890311 - Psn: 55)

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/16/2023). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jason Avery MBP List

A Familiar Bluet in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/17/2014).

Photo by Mike Hudson MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/18/2020). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND).

View Record Details Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist MBP List

Familiar Blues in Howard Co., Maryland (9/26/2010).

Photo by Rob Ostrowski MBP List

An adult male Familiar Bluet in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/13/2013). This was the first county record noted for the species, so Familiar Bluet has now been recorded in all 23 Maryland counties.

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Familiar Bluet in Howard Co., Maryland (9/26/2010). (c) Robert Ostrowski, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 733131 - Psn: 111)

Familiar Bluet in Howard Co., Maryland (9/26/2010). (c) Robert Ostrowski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Robert Ostrowski via iNaturalist MBP List

Map Snapshot

1,596 Records

GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO

Status

Widespread and common in Maryland, and possibly the most widespread and common damselfly in North America (Lam, 2004). Uses ponds and other slow-moving habitats, including brackish water. Quickly discovers man-made habitats.

Description

This is the starting point for learning damselflies, the quintessential bluet. Extremely similar to Hagen's, Marsh, and Atlantic Bluets. Marsh Bluet is historical. Atlantic Bluet is highly state rare. Hagen's Bluet is restricted to western Maryland and common in Garrett County.

Where To Find

When flying, probably the most likely damselfly at your local pond.

Seasonality Summary

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Resources

View at iNaturalist Search Google Images Search MBP Facebook posts

View images at BugGuide

Citations

No citations linked for this taxon yet.

Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

A Familiar Bluet in Harford Co., Maryland (6/22/2017). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A late flying Familiar Bluet in Howard Co., Maryland (11/10/2012). Media by Bonnie Ott.

A Familiar Bluet in Harford Co., Maryland (6/13/2018). View Record Details Media by Matthew Addicks.

A Familiar Bluet in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (6/29/2019). View Record Details Media by Ben Springer.

A Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/1/2019). View Record Details Media by Jason Avery.

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/15/2020). (c) jasoneavery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jason Avery.

Familiar Bluet in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist.

Familiar Bluets in wheel in Harford Co., Maryland (6/13/2018). View Record Details Media by Matthew Addicks.

Familiar Bluet in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/22/2023). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist.

Familiar Bluets in mid-October in Howard Co., Maryland (10/15/2013). Media by Richard Orr.

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/2/2021). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jason Avery.

Familiar Bluet in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/16/2023). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jason Avery.

A Familiar Bluet in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/17/2014). Media by Mike Hudson.

Familiar Bluet in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/18/2020). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). View Record Details Media by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist.

Familiar Blues in Howard Co., Maryland (9/26/2010). Media by Rob Ostrowski.

An adult male Familiar Bluet in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/13/2013). This was the first county record noted for the species, so Familiar Bluet has now been recorded in all 23 Maryland counties. Media by Bill Hubick.

Familiar Bluet in Howard Co., Maryland (9/26/2010). (c) Robert Ostrowski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Robert Ostrowski via iNaturalist.