Broad-winged Damselflies
 To learn more about the groups (genera) of Broadwinged Damsels, click on the links
at left.
Most of these large damselflies have a metallic green, blue or bronze body coloration
depending upon how the light hits them. Jewelwings have black wings or half
black wings, while the Rubyspots show a red patch on the base of the wings.
Females in both genera are generally similar in color to the males but not as bright
and with reduced wing markings. In most species, the females have white stigmas
while the male lacks a stigma entirely. All species have long black legs.
This is the only family of damselflies in which the males exhibit courtship behavior and the females exercise the choice of mates.
The males will hover and dance in front of a female until they are either accepted
or rejected. The females curve their abdomens upward and spread their wings to indicate
they are not ready to mate with this particular partner.
The broad-winged damselflies are usually found around streams perched horizontally
on vegetation. Unlike other odonates, females will spend almost as much
time near water as the males. These damselflies have a fluttering flight much
like that of a butterfly.
The females lay eggs in plant tissues often crawling down a plant stem a foot beneath
the water's surface. In some species, the male will hover-guard over the female
to prevent other males from mating with her.
The larvae of these damselflies are long and slender and very stiff-bodied. They
are usually found in streams and rivers clinging to underwater roots and vegetation
waiting for the water current to bring them food. Emergence usually takes
place on vegetation or rocks along the water's edge.
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