Thursday 3 August 2000

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

OTHER NAMES: Black-winged Damselfly
Latin Etymology: Calopteryx (?) virgo ("virgin")

 

Adult male Beautiful Demoiselle (Caleopteryx virgo) at Summer Leys, Northants

Featured Subspecies: Caleopetryx virgo britcannica
Weight: ?  /  Length: 49-54cm  /  Wingspan: 65-70mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATEDIUCN Red List: Least Concern

A distinctive species of damselfly noted for it's nearly entirely opaque wings, they are primarily associated with clear streams with plenty of water plants and high levels of oxygen present. As with demoiselles in general, their carapace is irridescent, with it appearing green in females, blue-green in adult males and blue in juvenile males.  

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Caleopterydae
Genus: Caleopteryx
SUBSPECIES: C. v. britannica, C. v. festiva, C. v. meridionalis, C. v. padana, C. v. virgo

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A species with a generally westerly distribution.
 Seen at Summerleys 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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