Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

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

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Damselflies (Zygoptera) » Broad-winged Damselflies (Calopterygidae)

Family Calopterygidae - Broad-winged Damselflies

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Internet References
Ebony Jewelwing - Calopteryx maculata - male Ebony Jewelwing - Calopteryx maculata - male Calopteryx aequabilis - female Hetaerina americana naiad - voucher specimen, in alcohol - Hetaerina americana Red damselfly - Hetaerina americana Rubyspot - Hetaerina americana Calopteryx maculata - male Ebony Jewelwing - Calopteryx maculata - 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)
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)
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Tony-2
Last updated 23 November, 2020 - 11:13pm

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 © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact