Copper Demoiselle
(Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis)

For a damselfly the Copper Demoiselle is large, with a body length of 4.5 cm and a wingspan of 7 cm. The male's body is metallic bronze-green with dark wings (). The underside of abdominal segments 8-10 is red, a feature which presumably gives the species its scientific name. The female is metallic greenish brown and her wings are a smoky brown with dark bands at the tips of the hindwings. As in the other European Demoiselle species, she has white pseudopterostigmas at her wingtips ().

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis flies from May to September, with a peak in July and August. This largely coincides with the flight period of its constant companion, the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).

The Copper Demoiselle is a fairly common species which occurs throughout the western Mediterranean area. Its favoured habitats are relatively slow-flowing streams and rivers with clean water. This year (2005) we have seen very large numbers of Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis compared to last year, when the ratio of Banded to Copper Demoiselles was easily 10 : 1. In 2005 that ratio was close to 1 : 1.

From our own observations we'd describe Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis as a 'copper-butterfly damsel'; its flight is highly reminiscent of a butterfly's flutter and on a bright day the sun's reflections off its metallic body are quite dazzling. Equally dazzling is the male's courtship display, which goes as follows: a male spots a female and approaches her while beating his wings very fast. After a while and still with fast-beating wings he flies a few metres upstream, sits down on the water and allows the current to carry him past the spot where the female is perched, looking on and duly impressed. And as he passes her he shows off his beautiful red backside. Very dashing indeed!

At our favourite streams and rivers, we've typically seen dozens of Copper Demoiselles at any one time. Not only the males but also the females have their own private perch from which to overlook their section of the river. Fights between rival males are frequent but never physical; Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis seem to have developed a fully ritualised way of resolving conflict.