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Species account
Beautiful Demoiselle
(Calopteryx virgo)
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Demoiselles (Calopterygidae) [Dragonflies] BEDE 24781
Demoiselles (Calopterygidae) [Dragonflies] BEDE 24781
Blåvinget Pragtvandnymfe (dk)
Damisela añil (es)
Blå Jungfruslända (se)
Synonyms (common):
Beautiful Agrion (gb) Gaitero Añil (es) Caballito del Diablo Azul (es)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula splendeo Harris, 1780
Agrion nicaeensis Risso, 1826
Agrio cyaneus Selys in Meisser, 1831
Agrio oeneus Selys in Meisser, 1831
Agrion festiva Brullé, 1832
Calepteryx anceps Stephens, 1835
Calepteryx ludoviciana Stephens, 1835
Agrion colchicus von Eichwald, 1837
Agrion vesta Charpentier, 1839
Calopteryx inornata Selys, 1840
Calopteryx virgo occitanica Walker, 1853
Calopteryx virgo meridionalis Selys, 1873
Calopteryx violacea Dziedzielewicz, 1902
Calopteryx virgo britannica Conci, 1952
Calopteryx virgo padana Conci in Conci & Nielsen, 1956
Calopteryx pseudoneurobasis St. Quentin, 1958
Calopteryx virgo feminalis Kosterin, 2017
Measurements:
To 45-49mm Ab 31-42mm Hw 24(29)-36mm
Generations:
Flight period:
(?):When compiling flight periods myself I mainly use citizen science data, and if so, limit to include records that have already been validated.
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Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
After an initial mating ritual the mating act takes place near the water and lasts a few minutes. The solo female then inserts the eggs into submerged plant material. The eggs hatch after few weeks. The larvae live in-between water plants and develop over 2-3 years. The imago transformation takes place near the water on plants, up to a meter above the ground.
Distribution:
(?):Altitude is often taken from a specific localized resource, why the true entire range very likely is wider.
Most of Europe eastward through Russia to the Ural Mountains. Also patchily Turkey and Iran. Very local NW Africa. In Denmark mostly present in S Jylland and on Bornholm.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Male guards over female while egg-laying.
Host plants:
Vandpest (Elodea)
Vandranunkel (Batrachium)
Pindsvineknop (Sparganium)
Vandranunkel (Batrachium)
Pindsvineknop (Sparganium)
Endemic:
Redlist
(?):NE: Not evaluated
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
RE: Regionally extinct
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
RE: Regionally extinct
LC(global) LC(eu) LC(EU) LC(dk)
Status:
Main distribution range in Denmark is the southern part of Jylland north to Limfjorden. Also relatively common in Nordjylland and on Bornholm. Rare elsewhere. Many observations in the citizen portals away from Jylland and Bornholm are, or very likely are, erroneous. Municipalities not housing any confirmed observations are excluded from the dk-map. These are mainly from Sjælland. Rather common and widespread in Sweden and Finland, less so in Norway.
Comment:
Measurements (taken from Dijkstra and Schröter 2 edition) seem to be off!
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963
(4 photos)
2022-07-12 Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden Imago Male Splendid creature! Here seen perched on firs several hundred meters from the nearest water source - something both species do occasionally. |
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1723
(1 photos)
2023-07-08 Jenskær (Silkeborg), Denmark Imago Male This new Danish species probably didn't receive the attention it deserved, being such so beautiful as it is . But I was more focused on the other two new Danish species present at this spot... Notice the slight paleness, transparency, near the wingtip. Not sure if it is related to population or individual variation. |
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3303
(2 photos)
2025-07-19 Jenskær (Silkeborg), Denmark [virgo] Imago Male 2 different males. I had three males in all on a day with very little activity. |
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964
(2 photos)
2022-07-12 Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden Imago Female Both Beautiful and Banded can be seen here. And both species can be seen away from water roosting in forest trees like here. |
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1554
(1 photos)
2023-06-07 Valdemarsvik (Östergötland), Sweden Imago Female We only had few of the species, and again along forest roads and clearings. |
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1722
(1 photos)
2023-07-08 Jenskær (Silkeborg), Denmark Imago Female |