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Beautiful demoiselle

Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), a damselfly of clean, fast-flowing streams. Males are metallic blue with dark wings; females metallic green with amber wings and a small white spot near each tip. One species, two solutions to the same equation.

Female beautiful demoiselle with metallic green body and amber wings resting on a bright fern
Sexual dimorphism. Same species, another solution: the female wears amber wings and a small white spot near each tip.62410-8797Coentral das Barreiras
Male beautiful demoiselle with metallic blue body and dark wings perched on the tip of a fern frond
Structural colour. That blue isn’t pigment; it’s light interfering with itself. Physics wearing sequins.62410-3090Coentral das Barreiras

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