Ebony Jewelwing
| Ebony Jewelwing | |
|---|---|
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| male | |
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| female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Calopterygidae |
| Genus: | Calopteryx |
| Species: | C. maculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Calopteryx maculata (Beauvois, 1805) |
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The Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is a species of broad-winged damselflies. It is one out of the 170 species of the Odonata found in New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and southeastern Canada.
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[edit] Identification
It is between 39–57 mm (1.5–2.2 in). The males have metallic blue-green bodies and black wings. Females have duller brown bodies and smoky wings and glistening white spots near tip wings. Naiad have pale brown bodies with darker markings.[1]
[edit] Habitat
It lives near wooded streams and rivers. Ebony Jewelwings flutter like a butterfly. When disturbed they fly a short distance to safety. These damselflies are easy to get close to as long as you approach slowly and don't make any sudden movements. They will often stop to rest on leaves or twigs. Ebony Jewelwings may fly far from water. They can be seen in the middle of the woods, while most damselflies and dragonflies are usually seen near ponds, lakes, or rivers.[2]
[edit] Breeding
Ebony Jewelwings mate in the summer. The male grabs the female behind her head with his tail or abdomen. After mating, females lay their eggs inside soft stems of water plants. Eggs hatch into larvae called naiads. Ebony Jewelwing naiads eat small aquatic insects. When the naiads are fully grown, they crawl out of the water and molt. They leave their old skin behind. The adult can soon fly off and look for a mate.[3]
[edit] Distribution
Its found throughout most of the United States (except 15 of the states) and southern Canada.
[edit] Flight season
This damselfly species is can be seen almost all year round in some regions. [4]
[edit] Prey
The Ebony Jewelwing has a wide variety of prey, including:[3] Asian Tiger Mosquito, Giant Willow Aphid, Fungus Gnat, Crane Fly, Large Diving Beetle, Eastern Dobsonfly, Water Flea, Green Darner, Aquatic Worm, Northern caddis fly, Rotifer, Copepod, Scud, Dogwood Borer, Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, Flatworm, and Green Hydra
[edit] Predators
The damselfly also has many predators, including:[3] Great Crested Flycatcher, American Robin, Big Brown Bat, Green Darner, Large Diving Beetle, Eastern Dobsonfly, Mallard, Eastern Painted Turtle, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Creek Chub, Channel Catfish, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Common Snapping Turtle, Southern Leopard Frog, Common Carp, Common Water Strider, and Northern hogsucker
[edit] Shelter plants
The Ebony Jewelwing has many plants it uses for shelter. The following is list of plants.[3] Yellow Pond Lily, Hydrilla, Lizard's Tail, Green Algae, Pickerelweed, Common Cattail, Tussock Sedge, Greater Bladderwort, Common Duckweed, Black Willow, Spotted Jewelweed, Spotted Joe-pye Weed, Poison Ivy, Wild Grape, Sassafras, Greenbrier, and Buttonbush
[edit] Relationship to humans
Like other damselflies they help people by eating large numbers of pesky insects, including mosquitoes, common houseflies, and other unwanted insects.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Lam, Ed. Damselflies of the Northeast. Forest Hills, NY:Biodiversity Press, 2004.
- ^ http://bugguide.net/node/view/601
- ^ a b c d e www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/ebony_jewelwing.htm
- ^ http://www.njodes.com/Speciesaccts/bwdamsels/jewe-ebon.asp
