Beautiful Damselfly
Calopteryx virgo
The beautiful demoiselle is a species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. The species has been found in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, and are often found nearby fast-flowing waters.
48
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_demoiselle
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Odonata
Family
Calopterygidae
Genus
Calopteryx
Beautiful Damselfly belongs to the family Calopterygidae, order Odonata, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The beautiful demoiselle is a species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. The species has been found in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, and are often found nearby fast-flowing waters.
The Beautiful Damselfly faces severe population declines primarily due to water pollution and habitat degradation of the clean, fast-flowing streams it requires for reproduction. Agricultural runoff, urban development, and river modification have significantly reduced the quality and availability of suitable breeding habitats across its range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Beautiful demoiselle is distributed across all of Europe with the exception of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Sicily, and Iceland. The beautiful demoiselle is mostly found in lowland locations. Regular findings come from areas up to a maximum height of 980 m above sea level; occasionally, they may be found up to 1,200 metres in altitude, such as in...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Beautiful Damselfly faces severe population declines primarily due to water pollution and habitat degradation of the clean, fast-flowing streams it requires for reproduction. Agricultural runoff, urban development, and river modification have significantly reduced the quality and availability of suitable breeding habitats across its range.
Stream habitat modification and channelization
Urban development near waterways
Water pollution from agricultural runoff
Climate change affecting water flow patterns
Invasive species competition
Found in 48 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Beautiful Damselfly (Calopteryx virgo). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/beautiful-damselfly