HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Damselflies (Zygoptera) » Broad-winged Damselflies (Calopterygidae) » Rubyspots (Hetaerina) » American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)

Species Hetaerina americana - American Rubyspot

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

American Ruby Spot - Hetaerina americana - female

American Rubyspot mating - Hetaerina americana - male - female

American Rubyspot - Hetaerina americana - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies)

Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies)

Genus Hetaerina (Rubyspots)

Species americana (American Rubyspot)

Numbers

One of three Nearctic species in the genus

Size

Length 3.8-4.6 cm

Identification

Males striking, unmistakable.

Females occur in two forms, with either green or copper-colored marks on thorax.

Range

Among the states, Washington and Idaho lack records of this species. The range continues from the United States south into Mexico. In Canada, these provinces have records: Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Habitat

Streams of various sizes

Season

May-November in mid-Atlantic states, e.g. Virginia

Food

Predatory

Life Cycle

Female oviposits in aquatic vegetation, sometimes submerging herself. Male often guards from above, but not in contact with female.

See Also

In the southwest, Canyon rubyspot lacks stigma in its wings

Male Smoky rubyspots with lightly marked wings have black bodies and dark markings at the tips of the wings

Print References

Lam, p. 21 (1)

Dunkle (2)

Nikula (3)

Paulson (4)

Internet References

Works Cited

1.	Damselflies of the Northeast Ed Lam. 2004. Biodiversity Books.

2.	Damselflies of Florida, Bermuda, and the Bahamas Sidney W. Dunkle. 1991. Scientific Publishers.

3.	Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. Little, Brown and Company.

4.	Dragonflies and damselflies of the East D. Paulson. 2012. Princeton University Press. 576 pp.

Contributed by Cotinis on 8 March, 2004 - 7:33pm
Additional contributions by Stephen_WV, Tyler Hedlund
Last updated 5 December, 2024 - 10:06am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version