Stats

Lifespan

Up to 1 yr

Size

Medium

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

The American Rubyspot is a broad-winged damselfly named for the vivid ruby-red patch at the base of each wing, which males flash in wing-waving displays to defend prime perches along streams. Unlike most damselflies, mated pairs often stay linked in tandem for extended egg-laying flights, with the male guarding the female from rival suitors the whole time.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Odonata

Family

Calopterygidae

Genus

Hetaerina

Species

Hetaerina americana