Earlier this week I did a posting that described the Eastern Amberwing dragonfly as “unmistakable.” When it comes to damselflies, that title almost certainly belongs to the very distinctive Ebony Jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata). There is no other damselfly in our area that has completely dark wings like the Ebony Jewelwing.
I spotted this handsome male Ebony Jewelwing on Monday at Occoquan Regional Park. How do I know it is a male? Well, the female has a conspicuous little white patch on her wings that is technically known as a “pseudostigma,” which this damselfly in lacking. Additionally, the little hoop-like appendage at the end of this damselfly indicates that it is a male.
These little damselflies like to spend a lot of time in the semi-darkness of shaded forest streams, like the location at which I photographed this Ebony Jewelwing.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful. Kind of spellbinding.
OK, so now I have to look for the end of tail ‘thing’the next time I see one. Great shot too LOL
Nice Mike! One of my favorite Damselflies!
I’m so used to seeing the transparent wings. This is stunning, Mike.