# American Rubyspot (*Hetaerina americana*) The American Rubyspot is a beautiful dragonfly with bright red spots on its wings. It loves to flutter around near water, showing off its colors to everyone who sees it. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![American Rubyspot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hetaerina_americana.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hetaerina_americana.jpg) ## Appearance The American Rubyspot is a slender damselfly, instantly recognized by the brilliant, ruby-red spots at the base of its clear wings, especially prominent in males. Its body is metallic green to bronze, contrasting with a pale underside, making it distinctive among other damselflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Calopterygidae - **Genus:** Hetaerina ## Interesting facts - Each of its giant eyes is made of thousands of tiny lenses! - Its babies live underwater for years before they become flying adults! - Males flash their amazing red wing spots to scare off other males! - They can grab prey right out of the air while flying super fast! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobatics:** American Rubyspot can quickly dart and hover thanks to two pairs of independently controlled wings that help it chase flying insects. - **Underwater Survival:** American Rubyspot nymphs can breathe underwater using specialized gills at their tail, allowing them to hunt and grow safely. - **Ruby Flare:** American Rubyspot has dazzling ruby-red wing patches that help males attract mates and defend their territory from rivals. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 35-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Eats small flying insects, like mosquitoes and gnats. - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults eat flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, midges, small flies, aphids - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Its nymphs and adults hunt this insect near water. - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Adults and nymphs are a food source for this fish. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Flying adults are preyed upon by this aerial hunter. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle and quiet around dragonflies so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Rubyspot? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is American Rubyspot's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is American Rubyspot? 35-45 mm ### How long does American Rubyspot live? 20-60 days ### How fast can American Rubyspot fly? 15 km/h ### What does American Rubyspot eat? Eats small flying insects, like mosquitoes and gnats. ### Where is American Rubyspot usually found? Wetlands ### How does American Rubyspot hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Columbia Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-canal) — South Carolina, US · Historic Site - [Manchester](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/manchester) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [The Fan](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-fan) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Beaver Creek State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/beaver-creek-state-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest - [Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-museum-and-chihuahuan-desert-gardens) — US · Botanical Garden - [Cherry County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cherry-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site [View all places to see American Rubyspot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-rubyspot) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [American Rubyspot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-rubyspot)