# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 111 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Jewelwing ![Ebony Jewelwing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ebony_Jewelwing%252C_male%252C_Gatineau_Park.jpg&width=800) Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ebony_Jewelwing%252C_male%252C_Gatineau_Park.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Calopterygidae - **Genus:** Calopteryx ## 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 - **Flashy Flier:** Ebony Jewelwing males can perform elaborate aerial dances because of their powerful wings that help them attract mates. - **Underwater Nursery:** Ebony Jewelwing females can lay eggs inside aquatic plant stems because of their special ovipositor that helps protect their young. - **Sharp-Eyed Hunter:** Ebony Jewelwing has large compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects while hunting over water. - **Winged Warning:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Adults are caught by quick-flying insectivorous birds. - **Eaten by:** [Green Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-frog) (*Lithobates clamitans*) — Frogs ambush adult damselflies that fly too close to the water. - **Eaten by:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Fish eat the aquatic larvae as a source of protein. - **Shelter:** Broadleaf Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Adults perch on stems near water, resting and hunting. ## Traits - [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. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [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 careful near water where they live, and watch them from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ebony Jewelwing? 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 Ebony Jewelwing's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is Ebony Jewelwing? 38-57 mm ### How long does Ebony Jewelwing live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Ebony Jewelwing fly? 8 km/h ### What does Ebony Jewelwing eat? Ebony Jewelwings are aerial predators, snatching up tiny flying insects with lightning speed! ### Where is Ebony Jewelwing usually found? Wetlands ### How does Ebony Jewelwing hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Ebony Jewelwing](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ebony-jewelwing) ## 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: [Ebony Jewelwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ebony-jewelwing)