Ebony Jewelwing

Calopteryx maculata

The Ebony Jewelwing is a beautiful dragonfly with shiny black wings and a sparkling blue-green body. They love to flutter around near water and are fun to watch as they dance in the air.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Ebony Jewelwing is a striking damselfly with a shimmering metallic green body. Males have distinctive, completely opaque black wings, while females have dark, smoky wings with a white spot near the tip. This unique combination of bright body and dark wings makes it easily identifiable.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyCalopterygidaeGenusCalopteryx

Ebony Jewelwing

Interesting facts

Males have wings so dark, they absorb sunlight to help warm up for flight!

These dainty insects often "perch" with their wings folded tightly along their body!

They spend over a year as a fierce larva, hidden at the bottom of streams!

Wow! Baby jewelwings breathe underwater using feathery gills on their tails!

Special abilities

Ebony Jewelwing males can perform elaborate aerial dances because of their powerful wings that help them attract mates.

Ebony Jewelwing females can lay eggs inside aquatic plant stems because of their special ovipositor that helps protect their young.

Ebony Jewelwing has large compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects while hunting over water.

Ebony Jewelwing males have completely black wings that flash in sunlight, helping them signal territory to other damselflies.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 50-70 mm
Size: 38-57 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Flight Speed: 8 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Ebony Jewelwings are aerial predators, snatching up tiny flying insects with lightning speed!

Age differences: Larvae eat tiny aquatic invertebrates, while adults feast on flying insects.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
midges
small flies
gnats
aphids

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Adults are caught by quick-flying insectivorous birds.

eaten by

Green Frog

Lithobates clamitans

Frogs ambush adult damselflies that fly too close to the water.

eaten by

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Fish eat the aquatic larvae as a source of protein.

shelters

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

Adults perch on stems near water, resting and hunting.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

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.