The Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a European damselfly

Damselfly

Damselflies are insects in the order Odonata. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but the adults can be distinguished by the fact that the wings of most damselflies are held along, and parallel to, the body when at rest...

. It is often found among fast-flowing waters.

Identification

The male has dark brown-black wingtips with blue veins. 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 and a metallic green body with a bronze tip of the abdomen

Abdomen

In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...

.

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

Banded Demoiselle

The Banded Demoiselle is a species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. It is often found along slow-flowing streams and rivers...

, 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.

Gallery

Beautiful Demoiselles mating	Calopteryx virgo meridionalis Museum specimen

See also

• List of British dragonflies