Calopteryx is a genus of large damselflies belonging to the family Calopterygidae. The colourful males often have coloured wings whereas the more muted females usually have clear wings although some develop male (androchrome) wing characteristics. In both sexes, there is no pterostigma.

Nomenclature The genus was first introduced by Leach in the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia (1815) under the spelling Calepteryx, generally regarded as a printer's error for Calopteryx.

It was only in 1890, many years after Leach introduced the genus, that it was widely recognised that Calopteryx was potentially a junior synonym of the Fabrician genus Agrion, established 40 years earlier. The controversy surrounding which genus name has nomenclatural priority has never been formally resolved; the ICZN rules would give priority to Fabricius' name, but most odonatists continue to use Calopteryx.

Species The genus contains the following species: Calopteryx aequabilis – River Jewelwing Calopteryx amata – Superb Jewelwing Calopteryx angustipennis – Appalachian Jewelwing Calopteryx balcanica Calopteryx coomani Calopteryx cornelia Calopteryx dimidiata – Sparkling Jewelwing Calopteryx exul – Glittering Demoiselle Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis – Copper Demoiselle Calopteryx hyalina – Clear-winged Demoiselle Calopteryx intermedia Calopteryx japonica Calopteryx laosica Calopteryx maculata – Ebony Jewelwing Calopteryx melli Calopteryx mingrelica Calopteryx oberthuri Calopteryx orientalis Calopteryx samarcandica Calopteryx splendens – Banded Demoiselle, Banded Agrion, Banded Jewelwing (inc. Calopteryx splendens taurica ) Calopteryx syriaca – Syrian Demoiselle Calopteryx transcaspica Calopteryx virgo – Beautiful Demoiselle, Beautiful Jewelwing Calopteryx waterstoni Calopteryx xanthostoma – Western Demoiselle

Etymology The genus name Calopteryx, established by Leach in 1815, is derived from the Greek καλός (kalos, "beautiful") and πτέρυξ (pteryx, "wing"), likely referring to the often brightly coloured and metallic wings characteristic of these damselflies.

References Lam, Ed. Damselflies of the Northeast. Forest Hills, NY:Biodiversity Press, 2004.