Japanese Demoiselle (Calopteryx japonica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Calopteryx (?) japonica ("Japanese")

Adult male Japanese Demoiselle (Calopteryx japonica) at Arashiyama, Japan - June 2013

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: 55-68mm /  Wingspan: ?
UK Status: Not Present / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

This Demoiselle is enormous by the standards of British Dragonflies and Damselflies, more akin to a decent sized dragonfly.  It was seen on the path up to the Monkey Sanctuary through the forested Hills of Arashiyama, and at the time appeared entirely black, but subsequent inspection revealed a greenish tinge to it.

Related Species:
Order: Odondata
Family: Calopterygiae
Genus: Calopteryx
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - アオハダトンボ  /  Aohadatonbo ("Awaoda Dragonfly")

Resident seen in Summer..

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single individual at Arashiyama.

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

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)

OTHER NAMES: Banded Agrion
Latin Etymology: Calopteryx (?) splendens ("shining")

Adult male Banded Demoiselle (subspecies C. s. splendens) at Geddington, Northants - July 2010

Featured Subspecies: Calopteryx splendens splendens
Length: 48mm  /  Wingspan: 60-65mm  
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Banded Demoiselles are one of the more common damselflies - they can be found alongside water in much of the British Isles. In my experience they seem to prefer rivers to ponds. The photo is of a male and can be easily identified by the deep turqouise colour and the very prominant black marks on the wings. The female is a metallic green/gold colour. I've found them mostly around reeds at the egde of rivers where large numbers sometimes congregate.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Caleopterydae
Genus: Caleopteryx
SUBSPECIES: C. s. amasina, C. s. ancilla,C. s. balcanica, C. s. caprai, C. s. cartvelica, C. s. ciscaucasica, C. s. erevanensis, C.s. faivrei, C.s. jhanseni, C. s. mingrelica, C. s. njuja, C. s. splendens, C. s. tschaldirica, C. s. wasterstoni, C. s. xanthostoma

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and several other sites

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

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 EVALUATED/ IUCN 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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