''Calopteryx aequabilis'', the river jewelwing, is a species of broad-winged

damselfly Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies (which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Epiprocta) but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the win ...

. The species was first described by

Thomas Say Thomas Say (June 27, 1787 – October 10, 1834) was an American entomologist, conchologist, and Herpetology, herpetologist. His studies of insects and shells, numerous contributions to scientific journals, and scientific expeditions to Florida, Ge ...

in 1839. It is one out of the 170 species of the

Odonata Odonata is an order of predatory flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies (as well as the '' Epiophlebia'' damsel-dragonflies). The two major groups are distinguished with dragonflies (Anisoptera) usually being bulkier with ...

found from northeastern

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

and southward in most of northern part the United States.

Description

The male has a metallic blue-green body and black wing tips. The female is duller brown with smoky wing tips that have white spots near the tips. The

naiad In Greek mythology, the naiads (; ), sometimes also hydriads, are a type of female spirit, or nymph, presiding over fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of fresh water. They are distinct from river gods, who embodied ...

is pale brown with darker markings.Lam, Ed. (2004) ''Damselflies of the Northeast''. Forest Hills, NY: Biodiversity Press, p.18.

Habitat

It lives near small to moderate forest streams.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2261744 Calopterygidae Odonata of North America Insects of Canada Insects of the United States Insects described in 1839 Taxa named by Thomas Say