Calopteryx (damselfly) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calopteryx (damselfly) |
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| Calopteryx virgo | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Calopterygidae |
| Tribe: | Calopterygini |
| Genus: | Calopteryx Leach, 1815 |
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Calopteryx is a group of beautiful, often colorful damselflies. They are known for being larger than many other damselflies. You can often spot them flying gracefully near streams and rivers. These insects belong to the family Calopterygidae.
Male Calopteryx damselflies are usually very colorful. They often have striking colored wings. Female Calopteryx damselflies are typically less colorful. Their wings are usually clear, though some females can develop wing colors similar to the males. A unique feature of both male and female Calopteryx damselflies is that they do not have a pterostigma. A pterostigma is a small, often colored spot found near the tip of the wings of many other dragonflies and damselflies.
What's in a Name?
Sometimes, scientists debate the best name for a group of animals. For a while, there was a discussion about whether Calopteryx or an older name, Agrion, should be used. Even though an international rule-making body suggested using Agrion, most scientists who study damselflies prefer and continue to use Calopteryx. So, Calopteryx is the name you'll most often hear!
Types of Calopteryx Damselflies
The Calopteryx group includes many different species. Each one has its own unique features and places where it lives. Here are some of the known species:
- Calopteryx aequabilis Say, 1839 – River Jewelwing
- Calopteryx amata Hagen, 1889 – Superb Jewelwing
- Calopteryx angustipennis (Hagen in Selys, 1853) – Appalachian Jewelwing
- Calopteryx balcanica Fudakowsky, 1930
- Calopteryx coomani (Fraser, 1935)
- Calopteryx cornelia Selys, 1853
- Calopteryx dimidiata (Burmeister, 1839) – Sparkling Jewelwing
- Calopteryx exul Selys, 1853 – Glittering Demoiselle
- Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis (van der Linden, 1825) – Copper Demoiselle
- Calopteryx hyalina Martin, 1909 – Clear-winged Demoiselle
- Calopteryx intermedia Selys, 1887
- Calopteryx japonica Selys, 1869
- Calopteryx laosica Fraser, 1933
- Calopteryx maculata (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805) – Ebony Jewelwing
- Calopteryx melli Ris, 1912
- Calopteryx mingrelica Selys, 1869
- Calopteryx oberthuri McLachlan, 1894
- Calopteryx orientalis Selys, 1887
- Calopteryx samarcandica Bartenev, 1912
- Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1780) – Banded Demoiselle, Banded Agrion, Banded Jewelwing (inc. Calopteryx splendens taurica Selys, 1853)
- Calopteryx syriaca (Rambur, 1842) – Syrian Demoiselle
- Calopteryx transcaspica Bartenev, 1912
- Calopteryx virgo (Linnaeus, 1758) – Beautiful Demoiselle, Beautiful Jewelwing
- Calopteryx waterstoni Schneider, 1984
- Calopteryx xanthostoma (Charpentier, 1825) – Western Demoiselle
