Calopterygidae

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Calopterygidae
Calopteryx virgo male.jpg
Calopteryx virgo
Scientific classification
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Calopterygidae

Sélys, 1850
Subfamilies

See text for genera

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The Calopterygidae are a family of damselflies (Zygoptera), commonly known as demoiselles or jewelwings. These rather large damselflies have wingspans of 50–80 mm (compared to about 44 mm in the common bluetail damselfly, Ischnura elegans) and are often metallic-coloured. The family contains some 150 species.

The Calopterygidae are found along the banks of permanent but slow-flowing streams, often with thick vegetation and debris.

Etymology

The name is derived from Greek kalos meaning beautiful and ptery meaning winged.

Characteristics

The adults have metallic bodies; their wings are broader, with wider bases than other damselflies, and at rest hold their wings parallel to the body, slightly elevated. Some species have conspicuously colored wings; in males, the wings are usually blue, without pterostigmas, in females green or brown. The wings are heavily veined, having often 18 or more antenodal veins. They have a jerky, skipping form of flight and they perch horizontally on twigs near the water edge. The first segment of their antennae is longer than the combined length of the other segments.[1][2]

Calopterygidae nymphs have lateral gills are longer than the median gills.[3]The nymphs have a flattened, pentagonal-shaped head, a long first antennal segment and long legs. They are found among submerged aquatic plants, woody debris and the exposed roots of streamside plants. There is a single generation per year.[2]

Classification

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Subfamily Caliphaeinae Tillyard & Fraser, 1939:

Subfamily Calopteryginae Selys, 1859:

Subfamily Hetaerininae Selys, 1853:

See also

References

  1. Dijkstra, 2006. Pages 23, 65.
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Sources

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