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The Beautiful Demoiselle(male)

Calopteryx virgo

Description:

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. 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.

Habitat:

The Beautiful Demoiselle (The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a European damselfly. It is often found among fast-flowing waters) is a European damselfly. It is often found among fast-flowing waters http://www.google.pt/url?sa=t&rct=j&...

Notes:

spotted in the weet meadow near my house,in the plantes near the little river streem that pass by

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8 Comments

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 11 years ago

Thanks Ricardo

Ricardo Salgueiro
Ricardo Salgueiro 11 years ago

Beautiful indeed!!

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 11 years ago

Emma Calopteryx maculata is not a european one :) now when people from another continents id me spottings i have to check that every time because some times the species is other,thanks ,you are so nice to us:)we apreciate that very much :)

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 11 years ago

@thanks auntnance123 ,after you give me your suggestion i reseach a bit and i think is The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)
@It's a male the femmale is brow,the other spotting i make is a femmale,i'am going to se what they eat and trie to learn how the insects make these metalic colour we see all arround the world,this one is even beautiful than the photos show,it was to much ligth
@Ségio obigado meu amigo é para esquecer a derrota de hoje :)
thanks Sérgio for your kind words

Sergio Monteiro
Sergio Monteiro 11 years ago

Que beleza, Antonio. Grande achado! / What a beauty, Antonio. Great spotting.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

looks like a male.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

Simply stunning colors!! Wonder what do they eat to get those colors!

auntnance123
auntnance123 11 years ago

Ebony jewelwing?

Braga, Portugal

Spotted on Jun 22, 2012
Submitted on Jun 27, 2012

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