Calopteryx exul

{{Short description|Species of damselfly}}

{{Italic title}}

{{speciesbox

| name = Glittering demoiselle

| image =

| status = EN

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| genus = Calopteryx (damselfly)

| species = exul

| authority = Sélys, 1853

|status_ref={{cite iucn |author=Boudot, J.-P. |date=2018 |title=Calopteryx exul |volume=2018 |page=e.T60287A72725790 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T60287A72725790.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}

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Calopteryx exul (glittering demoiselle) is an endangered species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae. It is endemic to Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. The species lives in isolated subpopulations within fragmented habitats, and the largest populations found were located in Northeast Algeria.Amari, H., Bensouilah, S., Khelifa, R., Sakrane, NE., Youcefi, A., Zebsa, R. (2014). “Long-range movements of an endangered endemic damselfly Calopteryx exul Selys, 1853 (Calopterygidae: Odonata)”. African Journal of Ecology, 375-377.

https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12107{{Cite journal|last1=Mellal|first1=Mohamed|last2=Bensouilah|first2=Mourad|date=11 September 2018|title=Reproductive habitat provisioning promotes survival and reproduction of the endangered endemic damselfly Calopteryx exul |journal=Journal of Insect Conservation |volume=22|issue=3–4|pages=563–570|doi=10.1007/s10841-018-0085-5|bibcode=2018JICon..22..563M |s2cid=53098955}} Their preferred habitat is lotic systems, featuring fast and shallow water, sparse vegetation, and a low amount of shade.Amari, H., Bensouilah, S., Kahalerras, A., Khelifa, R., Mahdjoub, H., Samways, MJ., Zebsa, R. (2023). “Condition-dependent survival and movement behavior in an endangered endemic damselfly”. Scientific Reports.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48162-wKhelfa, R. (2013). “Flight period, apparent sex-ratio and habitat preferences of the Maghribian endemic Calopteryx exul Selys, 1853 (Odonota: Zygoptera)”. Revue d’Ecologie (La Terre et La Vie), 37-45.

<https://www.persee.fr/doc/revec_0249-7395_2013_num_68_1_1674>

This is a large damselfly with a total length of up to 50 mm. Unlike most other Calopteryx damselflies, the wings are unbanded in both sexes although the male has metallic venation that produce a distinctive blue flash on each wing beat when the insect is flying in the sun. The males in this species tend to be territorial and when the females lay their eggs in patches of plants the males guard the plants. This species is known for having a partial bivoltine life cycle.{{Cite journal|last=Khelifa|first=Rassim|date=11 July 2016|title=Partial bivoltinism and emergence patterns in the North African endemic damselfly Calopteryx exul: conservation implications|journal=African Journal of Ecology|volume=55|issue=2|pages=145–151|doi=10.1111/aje.12332}} C. exul is believed to be an offshoot of splendens-like taxa from the Central Mediterranean islands and peninsular Italy.De Jonckheere, JF., Dumont, HJ., Weekers, PHH. (2001). “Phylogenetic relationships inferred from ribosomal ITS sequences and biogeographic patterns in representatives of the genus Calopteryx (Insecta: Odonata) of the west Mediterranean and adjacent west European zone”. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 89-99.

https://doi.org/10.1006/mpev.2001.0947