Ebony Jewelwing / Caloptéryx bistré
Calopteryx maculata
Fundy Nature Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes 2
Adult size: 39-57 mm (medium-large)
First Fundy record: Found in 2008 (exact date unspecified) during the CABIN surveys (Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network).
Habitat/Status: A common inhabitant of a variety of running waters in the Maritimes, although rare in Prince Edward Island; especially likes slow-moving, shaded forest streams.
Typical flight period: In New Brunswick, flies from the first or second week in June until mid-September (dates June 6th- September 22nd)
ID hints: This is the only Odonate in our region having totally dark wings, so it is unmistakable when well-seen.
This species is regularly seen and reported by visitors in the park each spring and summer during its wanderings. Its dark wings and butterfly-like flight pattern are visible from a long way off, making the Ebony Jewelwing an easy target for the enthusiastic naturalist with binoculars or a digital camera. Its dark wings and metallic-green body make for a striking combination; indeed, this is surely one of the most spectacular of our insects. During the summer of 2013, I spotted at least half a dozen different individuals crossing the parkway in front of the vehicle I was driving on the way to different programs over the course of the season.
Here are a few fascinating tidbits about this remarkable insect:
It is the only Jewelwing in North America which regularly wanders far from water. I have seen this species on numerous occasions in just about every habitat (just on its way through), including flying across a parking lot in downtown Moncton quite a distance from any running water.
-This species has been the subject of numerous behavioural studies, especially with regards to its mating behaviour and elaborate courtship displays. Males generally perform the major part in these amazing shows, which involve fluttering wing displays and frequently hovering in front of the female, often directly face to face with her. Both sexes use “wing flashing” to signify their interest in mating (or not) and the white pseudostigmata of the female makes her intentions clearly visible at a distance.- Still with regards to mating, one of the amazing aspects of the copulatory organ of the male is that it can scoop out any sperm remaining in the female’s spermatheca (a sperm storage compartment; the fertilization of the eggs can be differed) from a previous copulation, thus insuring the transfer of its own genes! This amazing characteristic was first discovered in a study of the Ebony Jewelwing by Jonathan K. Waage in 1979, but we now know that this feature also occurs in many other damselfly species.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Denis Doucet
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
More Info
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Family | Calopterigidae (Jewelwings) |
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