Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) | Species | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1/200th sec at F11. Approx 2x life size.) 
(1/100th sec at F11. Approx 2x life size.) © David HastingsDescriptionWingspan: 54 - 72 mm; body length: 45 - 48 mmThe male Banded Demoiselle has translucent wings which each have a broad, dark iridescent blue-black spot (or band) across the outer part. On immature dragonflies the spot is dark brown. The female has translucent, pale green iridescent wings with a white patch near the tip, and a metallic green body. Males are usually territorial. They court females by opening their wings and performing an aerial dance. They are usually found among mature, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and sometimes canals. Females can lay up to 10 eggs per minute for 45 minutes. They lay in a wide variety of emergent or floating plants, sometimes even submerging to do so. The eggs hatch after 14 days. The larvae have very long legs and are stick-shaped. They usually take two years to develop into adults. Sightings
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