Atrocalopteryx atrata
Males of this damselfly are metallic green with wings so darkly tinted they look almost black, and it rests with its wings folded together rather than spread flat.
| Where | Streams and rivers in lowland woodland |
|---|---|
| Size | 57 to 67 mm body length |
| When | June to September |
This damselfly has a slender body about 60 mm long; males are metallic green with entirely dark brown wings, while females are brown-bodied with the same smoky wings. At rest the two wings are held closed together over the body rather than spread open.
It lives along slow-flowing rivers and streams in lowland and open woodland, including some urban waterways, where males defend territories around favored perch stones and waterside leaves; eggs are laid on aquatic plants after mating.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Green, Brown, Metallic
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; it does not bite or sting and preys only on small flying insects.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
A similar dark-winged damselfly found in the same rivers, but mature male Calopteryx japonica has wings with a blue metallic sheen rather than the plain smoky dark brown wings of this species.
Questions
Is Atrocalopteryx atrata dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; it does not bite or sting and preys only on small flying insects.
When can you see Atrocalopteryx atrata?
Atrocalopteryx atrata can be seen from June to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Timur Kalininsky, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Demoiselles›Atrocalopteryx
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.