Superb Jewelwing / Caloptéryx élancé
Calopteryx amata
Summary 2
The Superb Jewelwing (Calopteryx amata) are found in Georgia and West Virginia through New England to New Brunswick in Canada. Of all members of the damselfly family Calopterygidae this species has the most narrow wings. It is overall a large species of damselflies, growing to lengths of 49–61 mm. C. amata damselflies perch on alders and other riverside plants. They dart out to capture prey, then return to their perch.
Fundy Nature Notes 3
Superb Jewelwing, Caloptéryx élancé
(Calopteryx amata)
Adult size: 48-61 mm (large)
Habitat/Status: An uncommon inhabitant of running waters in the Maritimes. Found along brooks and streams and some smaller rivers; favours clear, cold streams and tends to gather in areas with rocky rapids.
Typical flight period: In the Maritimes, flies from the first week in June until mid-August (dates June 6th NB - Aug 17th NS)
ID hints: This is the largest damselfly in the Canadian Maritimes and it is decidedly more slender than our other two Jewelwing species (Ebony and River). The wings in both sexes are tinted amber, with the last one-quarter to one-fifth of the hindwing having a darker tint in the males, which is sometimes very pale or virtually absent. The wings are also very slender and elongate (about 5x longer than their width), with the front and hind distal portions running essentially parallel to each other. This appears very different form the distinctly rounded and rather wide wings of the Ebony Jewelwing, which are about 3x as long as they are wide. Female Superb Jewelwings vary from metallic green to bronzy and show a white pterostigma, as in other Jewelwing species.
General Nature Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes:
Unlike the Ebony Jewelwing, this species rarely wanders far from water. This species also seems to be rather fond of caddisflies.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Denis Doucet
- Adapted by Denis Doucet from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calopteryx_amata
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
More Info
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Family | Calopterigidae (Jewelwings) |
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