Common shutwing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common shutwing
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Cordulephyidae
Genus:	Cordulephya
Species:	C. pygmaea
Binomial name
Cordulephya pygmaea Selys, 1870
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The Cordulephya pygmaea is a special kind of dragonfly. It's also known by a cooler name: the common shutwing. This tiny insect belongs to a family of dragonflies called Cordulephyidae.

Meet the Common Shutwing

The common shutwing is a very small dragonfly. It has a dark body, usually black or a deep purplish-black color. You might also spot some bright yellowish marks on its body.

Where Does It Live?

This interesting dragonfly makes its home in eastern Australia. It loves to live near streams, which are small rivers or flowing bodies of water. This is where it finds its food and lays its eggs.

How It Rests

One of the most unique things about the common shutwing is how it rests. Unlike many other dragonflies that keep their wings spread out when they land, the common shutwing folds its wings. It holds them together above its body. This is very similar to how a damselfly rests. It's like it's "shutting" its wings, which is probably how it got its name!

Gallery

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  A pair of common shutwings mating.

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  A drawing of a male Cordulephya pygmaea by Robin Tillyard. This picture shows details of the wing base. B is for the male, and C is for the female.

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  The wings of a female common shutwing.

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  The wings of a male common shutwing.