1. INDICATOR FOR WATER QUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
American Rubyspot Damselfly
Heaterina Americana
Lives near river and streams
Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Athropoda Class:Insecta Order:Odonata Family:Calopterygida Genus:Heaterina Species:H. americana
Ecosystem: wide range of habitat and near wetlands for larvae open spaces for mating
AVERAGE SIZE: MM
Range: all of North America
Niche: as adults they are predators and larva are essential food for fish and amphibians
LIFE CYCLE
INDICATOR FOR WATER QUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Predator: eats flies, mosquitoes, other small insects
Natural predators: beetles, spiders, fish, bees, lizards, rodents and tiny mammals
Rubyspots live for 1-2 years
Mating Ritual: The female curls her abdomen downwards and forwards under her body to pick up the sperm from the male's secondary genitalia. The male uses his "tail" claspers to grip the female behind the head.