River Jewelwing vs Twin-spotted Spiketail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute River Jewelwing Twin-spotted Spiketail
Scientific Name Calopteryx aequabilis Cordulegaster maculata
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Calopterygidae Cordulegastridae
Size 42-54 mm 68-78 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

River Jewelwing

A North American damselfly with narrow dark wing tips in males and a metallic green body. It prefers faster-flowing rivers than the Ebony Jewelwing.

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Did You Know?

Males have dark tips on otherwise clear wings, the reverse pattern of most other jewelwings.

Twin-spotted Spiketail

A large, dark brown spiketail with paired yellow spots on each abdominal segment. It is the most common spiketail in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae lie partially buried in stream-bottom leaf litter and ambush passing prey.