The Banded Demoiselle Damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) is an insect in the Calopterygidae family of damselflies.
The Banded Demoiselle has an iridescent dark blue-green body with greenish tinted, translucent wings. Each of its four wings has a wide brown band. Females have a metallic green or bronze body with greenish tinted wings, without the brown bands. The last three body segments are white, and are referred to as the ‘white rear light.’
It reaches a wingspan of 7 centimetres (almost 3 inches) across. Its body length is 5 centimetres (2 inches).
It prefers streams, rivers, and channels, where it feeds on insect larvae, such as midges and black fies.
The Banded Demoiselle ranges from Europe, mostly central and southern Europe, to the Atlantic Ocean and to China. It prefers lowland areas and river valleys. Males are territorial, and chase away other dragonflies. However, their territory is very small – about 3 metres.
The female lays eggs on a plant near water, while the male defends the territory. The eggs take 6-9 weeks to hatch. It undergoes a metamorphosis from egg to nymph to the adult damselfly.
Location of photographs: Tbilisi, Georgia and Giverny, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM