Ebony Jewelwing: Essential Facts and Tips for Enthusiasts

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The Ebony Jewelwing is a stunning damselfly found in eastern North America. Known for its iridescent green body and distinctive black wings, this damselfly is a fascinating creature to observe and learn about. Its scientific name is Calopteryx maculata, and it belongs to the family Calopterygidae. These damselflies are commonly found near streams in wooded areas, where they flutter around and showcase their beauty.

Males and females have some differences in appearance, making them easy to distinguish. Males have all-black wings and metallic blue-green bodies, while females have smoky bronze wings with a white spot near the tip, and their bodies are more brownish in color. Both sexes exhibit iridescence, which changes with the angle of light, adding to their allure.

The Ebony Jewelwing has a close relative called the River Jewelwing, but there are some differences between the two species. The River Jewelwing’s wings are more slender and have a smoky transparent appearance for the first two-thirds of the wing, with only the tips being coal black. Observing these unique creatures is a fascinating experience, whether for the casual nature lover or the serious entomologist.

Ebony Jewelwing Overview

Classification and Range

The Ebony Jewelwing, scientifically known as Calopteryx maculata, belongs to the Animalia kingdom and Arthropoda phylum. It is an insect in the Odonata order and part of the Calopterygidae family. This beautiful damselfly species is endemic to eastern North America.

Distinctive Features

Ebony Jewelwings display the following unique features:

  • Iridescent green body
  • Dark wings (completely black for males, smoky bronze for females)
  • White spot (pterostigma) at the outer edge of females’ wings

Male vs Female Ebony Jewelwing:

Males Females
All-black wings Smoky bronze wings
Metallic blue-green body Duller, more brownish body

Habitat

Ebony Jewelwings are typically found in wooded areas near streams and small rivers. Their fluttery flight pattern allows them to stay close to their habitat, rarely venturing too far away.

Physical Characteristics

Male and Female Differences

  • Males: all-black wings, metallic blue-green bodies
  • Females: smoky bronze wings, duller and more brownish body, white spot (pterostigma) on wings

The iridescent green body of the ebony jewelwing separates it into distinct appearances for males and females. Males have metallic blue-green bodies, while females are generally duller and more brownish.

Size and Body Length

  • Medium-sized damselflies
  • Approximately 2 inches in length

Ebony jewelwings are medium-sized damselflies, with a body length of around 2 inches, making them larger than some dragonflies.

Wings

  • Males: completely black wings
  • Females: smoky bronze wings with white spot (pterostigma) near outer edge

As previously mentioned, the wings of male ebony jewelwings are completely black, whereas female wings are smoky bronze with a distinct white spot (pterostigma) at the outer edge. This difference in wing coloration is a key aspect in distinguishing between male and female ebony jewelwings.

Coloration

  • Iridescent green body color
  • Varies between metallic blue-green (males) and duller brownish-green (females)

The iridescent body of these insects is predominantly green, with some variations in color between the sexes. Males have a more metallic blue-green body, while females exhibit a duller, brownish-green color.

Life Cycle and Behavior

Reproduction and Mating

The ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is an iridescent green damselfly with dark wings, endemic to eastern North America. They reproduce during the summer season, and mating takes place near streams and wooded areas. Males perform an elaborate display to attract females, showing off their colorful metallic blue-green bodies.

Nymphs and Molting

After mating, females lay their eggs in streams. The eggs develop into aquatic larvae called naiads or nymphs. Throughout their development, these nymphs undergo several molting stages, gradually transforming into their adult form. The complete nymph-development process includes:

  • Nymphs hatch from eggs
  • Nymphs molt multiple times
  • Nymphs emerge as adults

Territoriality and Feeding Behavior

Adult ebony jewelwings are territorial creatures, often found around streams in wooded areas. They don’t fly far from their territory and feed on various aquatic invertebrates. Some key features of the ebony jewelwing’s territorial and feeding behavior include:

  • Males establish territories near streams
  • Adults feed on aquatic invertebrates
  • Males defend their territory against other males

Comparing Adult vs Nymph Ebony Jewelwing

Characteristic Adult Ebony Jewelwing Nymph Ebony Jewelwing
Appearance Iridescent green body with dark wings Brown or greenish-brown with a similar shape to the adult but without wings
Habitat Streams in wooded areas Aquatic streams where eggs were laid
Feeding Aquatic invertebrates Aquatic invertebrates, mostly smaller insects
Behavior Territorial, males defend territory Molting and growing, generally vulnerable to predators

Remember to treat nature respectfully and enjoy observing the fascinating life cycle and behavior of the ebony jewelwing!

Diet and Predation

Feeding Habits

The Ebony Jewelwing is an aquatic damselfly that mainly feeds on small flying insects. They are known for their:

  • Quick and agile movements
  • Ability to snatch insects out of the air

For example, their diet may include:

  • Mosquitoes
  • Gnats
  • Small flies

Predators and Threats

The Ebony Jewelwing faces several predators and threats in their natural habitat. Some common predators are:

These predators are attracted to the Ebony Jewelwing’s iridescent green body and dark wings.

Comparison of common predators:

Predator Method of Predation Habitat
Fish Ambushing & chasing Aquatic
Birds Aerial pursuit & sharp beaks Terrestrial

Their habitat, which typically consists of streams in wooded areas, can also pose threats, such as:

  • Changes in water quality or temperature
  • Human impacts on surrounding vegetation

In conclusion, the Ebony Jewelwing’s diet consists of small flying insects. They face predators such as fish and birds, as well as threats in their aquatic habitat. The Ebony Jewelwing’s iridescent color and quick movements make it a remarkable species worth conserving.

Conservation and Human Interaction

Population Distribution and Status

The Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is native to eastern North America, ranging from Canada to Central Texas1. Their habitats include:

  • Slow-moving streams
  • Wetlands
  • Forests near aquatic plants

These damselflies have a stable population and are not currently threatened2.

Importance in Ecosystem

The Ebony Jewelwing plays a vital role in the ecosystem, particularly in maintaining a healthy balance of insect populations. Adults consume various small insects, while their larvae control aquatic pests like mosquitoes3.

Comparison of Ebony Jewelwing and River Jewelwing:

Feature Ebony Jewelwing River Jewelwing
Size 2 inches Smaller than EbonyJewelwing
Body Color Iridescent green Similar, but with more slender wings
Wings Completely black (male) Smoky bronze (female) Partial black, more transparent
Distribution Eastern North America1 Similar range

Characteristics of Ebony Jewelwing:

  • Iridescent green body
  • Large black wings
  • Endemic to eastern North America
  • Thrives in slow-moving streams, wetlands, and forests

In conclusion, the Ebony Jewelwing is a valuable member of the ecosystem, as it helps maintain the insect population balance and adds beauty to various habitats across North America.

Footnotes

  1. Calopteryx maculata – University of Florida 2
  2. Missouri Department of Conservation
  3. U.S. National Park Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authors

  • Bugman

    Bugman aka Daniel Marlos has been identifying bugs since 1999. whatsthatbug.com is his passion project and it has helped millions of readers identify the bug that has been bugging them for over two decades. You can reach out to him through our Contact Page.

    View all posts
  • Piyushi is a nature lover, blogger and traveler at heart. She lives in beautiful Canada with her family. Piyushi is an animal lover and loves to write about all creatures.

    View all posts
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