river jewelwing

River jewelwing is a large, 1¼″ to 2⅛″ long, showy, broad-winged damselfly. It is common in northern United States and southern Canada. Males and females are the same size.

The head, thorax, and upper (dorsal) and side (lateral) surfaces of the abdomen of the male are iridescent. The apparent color is determined by the quantity and angle of available light. In good light they appear brilliant metallic green or bright metallic teal blue depending on the angle of the light. In deep shade they appear black. The 8th and 9th abdominal segments have a narrow, white, lateral patch. The lower (ventral) surface of the abdomen is black.

The wings are 1″ to 1 7 ⁄16″ long and are broad, 3½ to 4 times as long as wide. On mature individuals they are pale smoky brown, almost clear, at the base with a dark brown band at the tip. The band on the hindwing is about one third the length of the wing. That of the forewing is narrower, about one fourth the length of the wing. The wings are not stalked at the base. The area between the base of the wing and the notch (nodus) is crossed by numerous veins.

The legs are long, slender, and dark.

The female is similar but less brilliantly colored. It may appear bronze, gray, or black with a slight bluish-green iridescence. The 8th and 9th abdominal segments have a brown lateral patch. The wings are darker, yellowish-brown near the body, dark brown on the outer third, usually appearing banded at the tip. There is a slender white area (pseudopterostigma) on the leading edge of each wing toward the tip. It is crossed by veins so is not a true pterostigma. It is less than half as wide as long.

Total length: 1¾″ to 2⅛″

Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) wings are broader, 3 times as long as wide. On the male they are entirely black, not banded. On the female they are darker, dark gray near the body becoming almost black at the tip, and not appearing banded. The pseudopterostigma is broader.

Clear, moderately flowing streams of any size with at least some open canopy; small and medium-sized rivers.

Late May to early September

Adults often perch head down on vegetation near water. When perched the wings are held back vertically above the body.

After mating the female oviposits eggs inside soft, submerged stems of aquatic plants up to a foot below the surface of the water. Naiads remain in the water for two or three years, molting 12 or 13 times before emerging as an adult. Adults emerge mostly in June. They reach sexual maturity in about 11 days and live on average for 16 to 20 days.

Small insects and other arthropods

Small insects and other arthropods

Sources

7, 18, 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 8/2/2025).

Haarstad, J. 1997. The dragonflies of selected eastern Minnesota rivers. Report submitted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Unpaged.

Steffens, W. P., and W. A. Smith. 1999. Status survey for special concern and endangered dragonflies of Minnesota: population status, inventory and monitoring recommendations. Final report submitted to the Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 54 pp.

Common

River Jewelwing
dragonflywhisperer

River Jewelwing Damselfly (Calopterygidae: Calopteryx aequabilis) Male
Carl Barrentine

River Jewelwing Damselfly (Calopterygidae: Calopteryx aequabilis) Male on Leaf
Carl Barrentine

River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis) Damselfly
Sagonto

River Jewelwings on the Marys River
naturalist97333

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

I came upon this adult male - River Jewelwing while out in an area near a small stream