Waterston demoiselle  (Calopteryx splendens waterstoni)

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Facts – Waterston demoiselle

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderOdonata
FamilyCalopterygidae
GenusCalopteryx (1)
SizeMale length of abdomen: 33.9 – 39.1 mm (2)
Female length of abdomen: 32 – 37.8 mm (2)
Male hind wing: 25 – 28.1 mm (2)
Female hind wing: 27.8 – 31.5 mm (2)

Status – Waterston demoiselle

This subspecies has not yet been classified by the IUCN.

Description – Waterston demoiselle

This damselfly is a subspecies of the banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), a large, robust damselfly with the same style of flitting, butterfly-like flight as that of the beautiful demoiselle (C. virgo) (3) (4). Mature male Waterston damoiselles have a metallic bluish-green body and wholly clear, translucent wings, lacking the typical dark blue area of other subspecies and most other Calopteryx (5). The females have a brilliant metallic green to copper-coloured body and similarly transparent wings (3) (4).

Range – Waterston demoiselle

The Waterston demoiselle, one of many subspecies of the Eurasian C. splendens, is confined to a small part of the eastern Black Sea coast of Anatolia (5) (6).

Habitat – Waterston demoiselle

Found only near rivers (5) (6).

Biology – Waterston demoiselle

The primarily nocturnal larvae of the Calopteryx live amongst tree roots and aquatic plants, and like other damselfly larvae, are active predators. Larvae metamorphose into adult damselfly after one year in hot countries, and emergence typically takes place in herbs, shrubs or trees (4). It takes 7 to 10 days to mature following emergence (6) and the total adult flight period of this particular subspecies lasts from May to the end of September (6). After maturation, males either hold territories around suitable egg-laying sites along a stretch of water, which they defend from other males, or they perch on vegetation at the riverside (5) (7). Whilst territory-holding males actively court females that fly into their territory with a fluttering display flight (4) (5), perching males try to mate with any female that passes by (6). Males will occasionally fight over a territory, engaging in a contest of a series of flights for hours (4). After mating, females oviposit, usually into the tissues of submerged vegetation within the male’s territory, generally guided, supervised and guarded by the male (5) (6). At high density, territorial behaviour disappears (5). The eggs take around 14 days to hatch (4).

Threats – Waterston demoiselle

The threats to this subspecies are unknown, but the isolation of both its small range (high endemicity) and the various populations deems it vulnerable to extinction.

Conservation – Waterston demoiselle

There are currently no known conservation measures targeting this species.

Find out more – Waterston demoiselle

For further information on dragonflies and damselflies see:

  • Silsby, J. (2001) Dragonflies of the World. Natural History Museum, Plymouth.

Authentication

Authenticated (05/10/2006) by Jean-Pierre Boudot, CNRS, Université Henri Poincaré Nancy I, France.

Glossary

  • Emergence: the final moult in which a dragonfly emerges from its larval skin (final moult) as the adult form.
  • Larvae: stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
  • Metamorphosis: an abrupt physical change from the larval to the adult form.
  • Nocturnal: active at night.
  • Oviposit: Oviposition is egg-laying in insects, using a specialised organ called an ovipositor.
  • Subspecies: a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.
  • Territory: area occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony.

References

  1. Species 2000 and ITIS Catalogue of Life (September, 2008)
    http://www.catalogueoflife.org
  2. Schneider, W. (1984) Description of Calopteryx waterstoni spec. nov. from northeastern Turkey (Zygoptera: Calopterygidae). Odonatologica, 13(2): 281 - 286.
  3. Leicestershire and Rutland Dragonfly Group (September, 2008)
    http://www.lrdg.org.uk/species/banded-demoiselle.php
  4. Brooks, S. (1997) Field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, Hampshire.
  5. Rüppell, G., Hilfert-Rüppel, D., Rehfeldt, G. and Schütte, C. (2005) Die Prachtlibellen Europas. Gattung Calopteryx. Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei, Vol. 654. Westarp-Wissenschaften, Hohenwarsleben, Germany.
  6. Boudot, J-P. (2006) Pers. comm.
  7. Nelson, B., Thompson, R., and Morrow, C. (2000) [In] DragonflyIreland (August, 2006)
    http://www.habitas.org.uk/dragonflyireland/5617.htm
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Image credit

Male Waterston demoiselle
Male Waterston demoiselle

© Jean-Pierre Boudot

Jean-Pierre Boudot
CNRS, LIMOS - UMR 7137
Université Henri Poincaré Nancy I
Faculté des Sciences
Boulevard des Aiguillettes
BP 239
Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex
F-54506
France
jean-pierre.boudot@limos.uhp-nancy.fr

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