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Family Calopterygidae - Broad-winged Damselflies

Damselfly - Hetaerina titia Calopteryx 2625 - Calopteryx dimidiata - male damselfly - Calopteryx maculata Female Ebony Jewelwing - Calopteryx maculata - female Calopterygidae - Calopteryx maculata Dragon Fly - Calopteryx maculata - male Calopteryx aequabilis - male Hetaerina titia
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)
Other Common Names
USE: The Odonata of North America for Common Names
USE: The Odonata of North America for Scientific Names
Explanation of Names
CALOPTERYGIDAE: from the Greek "kalos" (beautiful) + "pteron" (wing or feather) ...you might call these the beautiful-winged damselflies
Numbers
8 species in 2 genera in North America (nearctica.com)
Size
body length 35-66 mm
Identification
wings broader - relative to their length - than in the pond damselflies (Coenagrionidae) or spreadwings (Lestidae)
Range
most of North America
Habitat
larvae are aquatic; adults usually found on vegetation near water
Season
spring through fall; peak numbers in summer
Food
larvae and adults prey on insects and other arthropods
Internet References
live adult images of 5 species in 2 genera (Glenn Corbiere, Massachusetts)