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Beautiful Demoiselle

Calopteryx virgo

1 photo

1 photographer

·Rare · 50 pts

Whole wing dark blue-green in males; fast-flowing streams.

1 community photo of Beautiful Demoiselle on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/160ss shutter, 200mm.

Species Profile

Nationally Scarce B; conservation dependent due to habitat loss and water pollution

Lifespan: 1 year from emergence as adult; nymphs spend 1–2 years in water
Size & Weight: 28–34 mm body length; wingspan 34–42 mm
Habitat: Fast-flowing, clear, well-oxygenated streams and small rivers with shaded woodland margins and abundant vegetation.
UK Distribution: Restricted to southern England and Wales, particularly the Midlands, Cotswolds, and Welsh borders; resident and non-migratory.
Diet: Small flying insects including mayflies, small flies, and gnats caught in flight during aerial hawking.
Prey: Small dipterans, mayflies, and other aerial invertebrates
Predators: Robber flies, other larger dragonflies, damselfly-eating birds such as kingfishers, and spiders in riparian vegetation.
Mating Season: May to August, with peak activity June to July
Breeding: Females lay eggs in batches directly into water vegetation or submerged substrates; nymphs develop over 1–2 years with multiple instars; single generation per year.
Behaviour: Males are highly territorial and perch conspicuously on waterside vegetation, displaying iridescent blue-black wings. Males perform elaborate aerial displays and chasing sequences to establish dominance and attract females. Females are more cryptic and spend more time in vegetation.

Did You Know?

•Both sexes possess distinctive iridescent wings that are metallic blue-black in males and bronze-green in females, making them among the most beautiful UK damselflies
•Males engage in intense aerial combat, performing rapid dives and climbs to defend their stretches of stream from rival males
•The species requires exceptionally clean, fast-flowing water and is considered a bioindicator of high water quality
•Unlike many damselflies, Beautiful Demoiselles rarely venture far from their breeding streams, making populations vulnerable to habitat fragmentation
•The nymphs are aquatic predators, using raptorial forelegs to catch small aquatic invertebrates on the streambed

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Shutter

1/160ss

ISO Range

400

Aperture

f/f/9

Focal Length

200mm

🐛 Beautiful Demoiselle

Insect