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Ebony Jewelwing damselfly
Calopteryx maculata
30.286, -81.5677
Field Notes
Description:
It is between 39–57 mm (1.5–2.2 in). The males have metallic blue-green bodies and black wings. Females have duller brown bodies and smoky wings and glistening white spots near tip wings. Naiad have pale brown bodies with darker markings
Habitat:
It lives near wooded streams and rivers. Ebony Jewelwings flutter like a butterfly. When disturbed they fly a short distance to safety. These damselflies are easy to get close to as long as you approach slowly and don't make any sudden movements. They will often stop to rest on leaves or twigs. Ebony Jewelwings may fly far from water. They can be seen in the middle of the woods, while most damselflies and dragonflies are usually seen near ponds, lakes, or rivers.
Notes:
Ebony Jewelwings mate in the summer. The male grabs the female behind her head with his tail or abdomen. After mating, females lay their eggs inside soft stems of water plants. Eggs hatch into larvae called naiads. Ebony Jewelwing naiads eat small aquatic insects. When the naiads are fully grown, they crawl out of the water and molt. They leave their old skin behind. The adult can soon fly off and look for a mate.
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