Calopterygidae

Calopterygidae
Immature adult male Calopteryx virgo
Adult male Calopteryx virgo
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Superfamily: Calopterygoidea
Family: Calopterygidae
Sélys, 1850
Subfamilies
  • Caliphaeinae
  • Calopteryginae
  • Hetaerininae

See text for genera

Calopterygidae is a family of damselflies, in the suborder Zygoptera. They are commonly known as the broad-winged damselflies, demoiselles, or jewelwings. These rather large damselflies have wingspans of 50–80 mm (compared to about 44 mm in the common bluetail damselfly, Ischnura elegans), are often metallic-coloured, and can be differentiated from other damselflies by the broader connection between the wings and the body, as opposed to the abrupt narrowing seen in other damselfly families. The family contains some 150 species.

The Calopterygidae are found on every continent except Antarctica. They live along rivers and streams.