BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE |
CALOPTERYX VIRGO |
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| Fig 1 |
ADULT: Up to 45mm in length. A stunning species with males having a body of metallic blue and a broad black spot on the outer part of the wings. Females are metallic green and the wings are of a translucent pale green with a white patch near the tip. BEHAVIOUR: The stick-shaped larvae live in muddy water and overwinter buried in mud. They usually take 2 years to reach maturity. This species is very sensitive to pollution so is a good indicator of clean water. DISTRIBUTION: Common throughout Britain becoming scarcer towards the North but never found in great numbers anywhere. HABITAT: Preferably slow moving streams and rivers with muddy bottoms but can be found in inland pools. FLIGHT PERIOD: April to September. |