Stream Bluet

(Enallagma exsulans)

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In this photo the male is barely able to keep his head above water while the female lays her eggs completely submerged in the stream.

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This female Stream Bluet lost part of her mate! (Was he eaten off by a predator as he stood guard?)

I have observed Stream Bluets at four different sites in central Wisconsin. They were most abundant on the Mecan River in Waushara County where these photos were taken. At their most abundant, there were many pairs using tiny pieces of vegetation for egg laying. In the second photo on the right, there are five pairs of Stream Bluets and one pair of Variable Dancers all laying eggs in a very small area. The bottom right photo shows a female Stream Bluet that is completely submerged as she is laying eggs on the underwater vegetation. The male often stands guard, hovering directly over her as she lays her eggs, but in this photo he is barely able to keep his head above water.