Willow Emerald Damselfly

Taxobox
name = Willow Emerald Damselfly

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regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Odonata
subordo = Zygoptera
familia = Lestidae
genus = "Chalcolestes"
species = "C. viridis"
binomial = "Chalcolestes viridis"
binomial_authority = (Vander Linden, 1825)The Willow Emerald Damselfly, "Chalcolestes viridus", is a type of damselfly.

Identification

Both sexes are mainly metallic green, like other damselflies, but larger, darker and without pruinescence. The pterostigma is pale brown and outlined in black. The thorax has thin yellow antehumerals and broader yellow stripe above a thin black line on each side; the upper edge of the stripe is irregular, often with a black spur.

Male - The abdomen is very long. The lower anal appendages are less than half the length of the upper which are a distinctive pale yellow with black tips.

Female - The ovipositor is longer than in Scarce Emerald Damselfly.

Behaviour

Males defend vertical territories in marginal trees. They often stray from water. The eggs are laid into incisions in the bark of overhanging branches, resulting in distinct oval galls.

Breeding habits

Mainly ponds and canals, with overhanging willows alders or birches, which are used for breeding.