Template:POTD/2023-02-17

Picture of the day
Beautiful demoiselle
The beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a European damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. It is found across most of Europe as well as parts of the North African Mediterranean coast and the Arctic polar sea. The insect's body length is around 49 to 54 millimetres (1.9 to 2.1 in), with hindwings of 31 to 37 millimetres (1.2 to 1.5 in). It has small hemispherical eyes located laterally on the head, two pairs of wings similar in shape and a slender abdomen. The species presents an evident sexual dimorphism in colour pattern. This male beautiful demoiselle was photographed in Hampshire, England, in 2016.Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp