Bug FAQGlistening Demoiselle
Phaon iridipennis · Order: Odonata · Family: Calopterygidae
The glistening demoiselle is a large damselfly up to 75 mm long with a wingspan near 87 mm and long legs. Its wings sparkle with purple-blue flecks and the body is a coppery green, females being a duller brownish shade. It lives near rivers, streams and forested wetlands across most of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The wings have iridescent purple-blue flecks that sparkle in sunlight. Both sexes have a coppery-green thorax and abdomen, with females appearing duller and browner.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults can reach up to 75 mm (3 in) in length and a wingspan of about 87 mm (3.4 in).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are most common along rivers and streams surrounded by gallery forest. They also perch in dense, shady undergrowth on sticks and logs among leaf litter.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are recorded year-round in warmer areas, with peak activity from October to March, especially late November. Near water they perch low on rocks and overhanging sticks.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They are most active from October to March, peaking in late November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species occurs in most sub-Saharan African countries, from South Africa to Ethiopia and Senegal. It is also present on Madagascar.
Source: Wikipedia
Questions people ask
When are glistening demoiselles most active?
They are active all year in warm regions but are most common from October to March, with a peak in late November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does the glistening demoiselle live?
It lives along rivers, streams and forested wetlands throughout sub-Saharan Africa and also on Madagascar.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the glistening demoiselle look like?
It is a large damselfly with iridescent purple-blue flecks on its wings and a coppery-green body; females are a duller brownish color.
Source: Wikipedia
How big does the glistening demoiselle get?
Adults can grow up to 75 mm long with a wingspan of about 87 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Calopterygidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaon_iridipennis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.