American Rubyspot

The American Rubyspot is a broad-winged damselfly recognized by the vivid red patch at the base of its otherwise clear wings, most vibrant in mature males. It is widespread across much of the United States, southern Canada, and into Mexico, typically found along sunlit stretches of rivers and streams.

The body is metallic coppery-red to bronze-green, and combined with the ruby wing spots, mature males in good light are among the more colorful damselflies found along flowing water. Females and immatures show duller coloration and smaller or more amber-toned wing spots.

• Bright ruby-red patch at the base of each wing in mature males, fading to amber or dull red in females
• Metallic bronze to coppery-red body coloration
• Broad-winged damselfly body shape, larger and more robust than typical pond damselflies
• Clear wingtips beyond the colored basal patch
• Similar Smoky Rubyspot has smokier, more extensively dark wingtips compared to the mostly clear wingtips of the American Rubyspot

American Rubyspots favor sunny stretches of rivers and streams with moderate current and rocky or sandy substrate. The species is found across much of the continental United States, southern Canada, and into Mexico. Adults are active from late spring through summer and into early fall in warmer parts of the range.

Males often perch on exposed rocks, twigs, or streamside vegetation in sunny spots, displaying the ruby wing patches during courtship and territorial disputes with rival males. Adults feed on small flying insects captured near the water. The nymphs, which require flowing, well-oxygenated water, are predators on other small aquatic invertebrates among submerged rocks and vegetation, and the species serves as an indicator of relatively clean stream conditions as well as a food source for fish and other predators.

Females lay eggs by inserting them into submerged plant material or algae using a specialized ovipositor, often while guarded by the male nearby. The eggs hatch into nymphs that live among rocks and vegetation in flowing water, developing over roughly one year while feeding on small invertebrates. Mature nymphs climb out of the stream onto rocks or vegetation to complete metamorphosis into winged adults. Adults live for several weeks, during which courtship, mating, and egg-laying occur along sunny stream habitat.