Calopteryx aequabilis

This family of damselflies is known as the broad-winged damselflies because their wings are broader than other damselflies.
Photo Credit: Phil Myers
Calopteryx aequabilis
Common Name: river jewelwing
Other Scientific Names: Agrion aequabilis
Animal Guild: Insect
Class > Order > Family: Insecta > Odonata > Calopterygidae
What does the species look like? Adult: The river jewelwing can be easily separated from other members of the genus by the dark bands at the tips of the wings. Both males and females are long and slender and have bright metallic green bodies and colored wings. Males have blue reflections in the metallic green of their body and the wings are clear at the base with broad, dark brown, apical bands (black tips). Females usually have smoky or light brown wings with dark brown wing tips, but the wing bases have yellow-brown shading and anterior wing margins are a contrasting bright white. Female wings are generally paler. Total length: 1.69-2.13 inches (43-54 mm); abdomen: 0.59-0.91 inches (15-23 mm); hindwing: 1.06-1.46 inches (27-37 mm).|Similar Species:The wings of both sexes of the river jewelwing are wide; 3.5 to 4 times longer than wide, with dark wing tips. It tends to be found on larger, more open streams and rivers than the ebony jewelwing, Calopteryx maculata, which is similar in appearance. The wings of the ebony jewelwing, however, are completely black in color.|Nymph: Although difficult to identify, the larvae are distinguished from those of other damselflies by their greatly elongate first antennal segment, which is as long as the combined length of the remaining segments. Lateral gills are also triangular in cross section, in contrast to the flat lateral gills of other damselflies.
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AB, BC, CA, CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NB, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NL, NS, NT, NV, NY, OH, ON, OR, PA, PE, QC, RI, SD, SK, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY
Distribution

This species is distributed broadly across northern and central North America from extreme southern British Columbia and north-central Alberta (noticeably absent from the Yukon) east to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. In the United States it occurs in New England as far south as Virginia, east to Iowa, Indian, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, California, and it is spotty in the west in southern Washington and east of the Cascade Mountains.

Larvae live in small to medium-sized, warm rivers and streams; especially along swiftly flowing riffle segments. They can typically be found on underwater tree roots and aquatic vegetation. Adults are often perched near the water in a head down position.
General Phenology and Life History The larval life cycle is typically two or three years long. Flight period is from mid-June to early September in British Columbia, early June to early September in Washington, mid-May to mid-September in Oregon, May to August in California, mid-June to early September in Idaho, June to September in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, mid-June to late August in Ohio, mid-May to mid-August in Massachusetts, and late May to late August in Nova Scotia. Males are territorial, defending oviposition (= egg-laying) sites, and this is one of the few damselflies where males court females. Courtship involves fluttering back and forth in front of a perched female and by males flinging their bodies onto the water. Mating usually occurs on vegetation very close to the water after which the male returns to his territorial perch to guard the egg-laying female. Females lay eggs singly below the water’s surface. She dips the tip of her abdomen into the water or may submerge her entire body. Adults are often found perched on streamsides in emergent vegetation within a few feet of the shoreline. They may also fly low over the water in a bouncy manner.
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see/hear...?
Activity Adults
One or more adults are seen or heard moving about or at rest.
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Adults feeding
One or more adults are seen feeding. If possible, record the name of the species or substance being eaten or describe it in the comments field. For Calopteryx aequabilis, adults feed on almost any flying insect they can catch.

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Reproduction Mating
A male and female are seen coupled in a mating position, usually forming what looks like a circle with their bodies. This can be at rest or in flight.

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Egg laying
A female is seen laying eggs directly onto the water surface, or attached to aquatic plants.

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Development Recently emerged adults
One or more adults (teneral adults) are seen just following emergence from the larval stage. They have a soft exoskeleton and a pale appearance.

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Dead adults
One or more dead adults are seen.

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Method Individuals at a light
One or more individuals are seen at a light, whether flying or at rest.

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Individuals in a net
One or more individuals are seen caught in a net.

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Individuals in a trap
One or more individuals are seen caught in a trap.

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What do these phenophases look like?

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