Beautiful Demoiselle

Beautiful Demoiselle
Male C. virgo
Female C. virgo
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Family:	Calopterygidae
Genus:	Calopteryx
Species:	C. virgo
Binomial name
Calopteryx virgo (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a European damselfly. It is often found among fast-flowing waters.

Identification

The male usually has much more extensive pigmentation on the wings than other Calopteryx species in its range: in the south east of its range (the Balkans and Turkey) the wings are entirely metallic blue while in other areas, there are clear areas at the base and tip of the wing. Immature insects often have much paler, browner wings. They have metallic blue-green bodies and blue-green eyes.

The female has dark brown iridescent wings, a white patch near the tip of the wings (called a pseudopterostigma) and a metallic green body with a bronze tip of the abdomen.

Eggs and larvae

Females lay up to 300 eggs at a time on emergent or floating plants, often on water-crowfoot. Like the Banded Demoiselle, they often submerge to do so. The eggs hatch after around 14 days. Again, like the Banded Demoiselle, the larva is stick-like with long legs and develops over a period of two years in submerged vegetation, plant debris or roots. They usually overwinter in mud or slime.

Behaviour

Males are territorial, perching in bankside plants and trees. They chase passing insects, often returning to the same perch. Males can stray well away from water, females live away from water unless egg-laying or seeking a mate.

Gallery

Beautiful Demoiselles mating	Calopteryx virgo meridionalis Museum specimen

See also

• List of British dragonflies

References

• "Calopteryx virgo". British Dragonfly Society. http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/beautiful-demoiselle. Retrieved 22 May 2011.