Banded Demoiselle

Taxobox
name = Banded Demoiselle

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image_width = 300px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Odonata
subordo = Zygoptera
familia = Calopterygidae
genus = "Calopteryx"
species = "C. splendens"
binomial = "Calopteryx splendens"
binomial_authority = (Harris, 1780) [The dates 1782 and 1776 have been given in the entomological literature; Hämäläinen (2008) showed that the species was described in 1780] The Banded Demoiselle "Calopteryx splendens" is a European damselfly. It is often found along slow-flowing streams and rivers.

Identification

The male has translucent wings which each have a broad, dark iridescent blue-black spot (or band) across the outer part. On immature dragonflies the spot is dark brown.

The female has translucent, pale green iridescent wings with a white patch near the tip, and a metallic green body.

Eggs and larvae

Females can lay up to 10 eggs per minute for 45 minutes. They lay in a wide variety of emergent or floating plants, sometimes even submerging to do so.

The eggs hatch after 14 days. The larvae have very long legs and are stick-shaped. They develop over two years, usually. They tolerate muddy water and overwinter buried in mud. When they are ready to moult into an adult, they climb up a suitable reed or plant and shed their skin.

Behaviour

Males are usually territorial, but large numbers can sometimes be found in lush bankside plants and on floating objects. They court females by opening their wings and performing an aerial dance. They are usually found among mature, slow-flowing streams and rivers and sometimes canals.

Footnotes and references

Bibliography

* Hämäläinen, Matti (2008) "Calopteryx splendens" (Harris, 1780) - a note on the publication date of the description of the Banded Demoiselle "Journal of the British Dragonfly Society" 24(1): 19-23