Hetaerina is a genus of damselflies in the family Calopterygidae. They are commonly known as rubyspots because of the deep red wing bases of the males. The name is from Ancient Greek: ἑταίρα (hetaira), courtesan. The Guatemalan rubyspot H. rudis is considered vulnerable on the IUCN Red Data List.
Overview
The genus Hetaerina alone encompasses roughly 40 species in a variety of habitats throughout the Americas. Recent phylogenetic analyses for the subfamily Heterininae suggest that the genera Mneserate and Ormenophlebia are actually nestled within their sister genus Hetaerina, which would account for the species confusion of early Mnesarete and Hetaerina studies.
The genus currently contains the following species:
