Description Large dull brown to black dancer with areas of whitish pruinosity (“powder”). Head almost entirely pale in pale western populations, pale postocular line in dark eastern populations. Male: Eyes brown, in some populations darker on top, or pale gray-brown. Heavily marked immatures with wide median stripe and wide humeral stripes, some populations with humeral stripe forked or entirely divided with outer fork wider. Wide and complete black stripes on abdomen make it mostly black above with contrasty white rings at base of S3–7 (at most extreme these may show tinge of blue); S9–10 pale except for dorsolateral stripes. Pruinosity varies with population, in wetter regions (eastern edge of West) may be only on front of head, front of thorax, and S9–10 at most, in drier regions covering head, all of thorax, and S8–10, and in arid Southwest may extend to cover much of abdomen as well, producing a whitish to gray damselfly. Thoracic pattern at least faintly visible no matter how pruinose. Very young males in West can virtually lack thoracic markings, like females, and have S8–10 conspicuously pale as if abdomen tip were to become blue; but it does not! Range of variation can be seen across width of Texas. Female: Polymorphic, either entirely light brown, only head and thorax blue, or largely blue (latter in arid regions); usually brown more common than blue. Blue individuals may be green when younger. Most western populations have relatively lightly marked females with only fine median and humeral stripes, thorax essentially unmarked. Abdomen with wide complete dorsolateral stripes on S2–9 enclosing brown middorsal stripe; obvious ventrolateral stripe on S8, but S9–10 pale from side. In wetter eastern part of region, thorax obviously striped, with wide median stripe and narrow, either unforked or widely forked humeral stripe; never broad humeral stripe as in males. Dorsolateral stripes may almost fuse, so abdomen looks entirely dark above.
Identification Typical heavily pruinose mature male like nothing else, as pruinosity rare in male pond damsels. Male POND SPREADWINGS have pruinose thorax and abdomen tip but are otherwise very different from Powdered Dancer. Immature males quite variable but could be distinguished by outer fork of humeral stripe much wider than inner and entirely black abdomen with S9–10 pale, with or without stripes. Female distinguished from female Blue-fronted Dancer by almost entirely lacking ventrolateral stripe on S9, so abdomen tip looks pale from side rather than striped. In hand, helpful mark is relatively long stigma, often with crossvein contacting it in middle; in all other dancers but Sooty, crossveins at ends of stigmas. Interestingly, this species perches more often than other dancers with wings alongside abdomen.
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Powdered Dancer very pruinose male—Hidalgo Co., TX, May 2005; lightly pruinose male—Jasper Co., TX, May 2005; immature male—Fayette Co., IA, July 2004
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Powdered Dancer brown female, striped blue female—Jasper Co., TX, May 2005; unstriped blue female—Llano Co., TX, July 2004
Natural History Males typically perch on rocks at shore or out in water, also on streamside vegetation. May hover over water for lengthy periods, much more likely to do so than other dancers; typically face upstream but perhaps merely into wind. Males can be abundant in late morning, tandem pairs not until midafternoon, but copulating pairs much less often seen. Copulation lasts 14–31 min, tandem exploration 3–49 min, oviposition 37–67 min. Females oviposit at surface or submerged, either solo or in tandem, to several feet below surface; may stay under for 30 min. Pairs often aggregate in large numbers, even landing on each other while female probing with abdomen. Eggs laid in almost any substrate in live or dead plant tissue, including algal films on rocks. Sexual maturation takes about 2 weeks, average adult longevity 3 weeks, maximum 4 weeks.
Habitat Streams and rivers, from muddy to sandy but often rocky, with wooded or open banks; also on irrigation canals. Typical of largest rivers inhabited by dancers but may also be on quite small streams. Also on large lakes in northern parts of range.
Flight Season CA Apr–Nov, AZ Apr–Nov, NM Mar–Dec, NE May–Oct, TX Jan–Dec.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Jalisco and Tabasco and in East from Ontario and Nova Scotia south.
81 Blue-ringed Dancer Argia sedula TL 30–34, HW 18–21
Description Common small, mostly black dancer with bright blue rings and blue abdomen tip. Sexual dimorphism more extreme than in most dancers. Male: Eyes blue. Postocular spots small, separated. Median and humeral stripes very wide, so thorax mostly black in front with narrow blue antehumeral stripe. S2 with black side stripes widely fused above, S3–7 black with conspicuous blue basal rings, S8–10 blue with black lower side stripes. Black on middle segments slightly constricted toward rear, so small amount of tan or blue shows from sides. Males in tandem often have postocular spots and front of thorax dull blue-gray, much duller than usual, and this color also characteristic of individuals at low temperatures. Female: Eyes brown; head entirely pale above. Body color light brown. Thoracic markings dull and obscure; wide brown median stripe usually faintly evident with median carina a black hairline, and wide brown forked humeral stripe may also be visible. Mature females show touch of pale blue-green on tiny plates at wing bases. Abdominal markings brown, consisting of apical spot on S2–4 becoming more obscure on rearward segments, dorsolateral spots or stripes on S3–5 or S3–6 similarly disappearing into dull brown patternless S7–10, becoming paler toward end. Pale bluish-green basal rings and sides evident on S3–6 in some, perhaps sign of maturity. Wings distinctly amber-tinted.
Identification In this region, male most like Paiute Dancer but only slight range overlap. Blue-ringed has thorax mostly black in front, with relatively narrow antehumeral stripes, whereas Paiute shows more blue, with those stripes wide. Paiute has narrower blue rings on abdomen but two per segment in middle. Female Blue-ringed less patterned than most other brown female damselflies, in some almost patternless and only black markings, upright mesostigmal plates and hairline median carina. Also more likely to have wings brownish. Most similar to female Tarascan; see that species. Also similar to female Golden-winged, which has more deeply tinted amber wings, broad dark median stripe, and black markings on head (scarcely visible if present on Blue-ringed). Blue-ringed also like Paiute, but latter has prominent black markings on all segments back to S9.
Natural History Males perch on herbaceous vegetation at streamside, much more likely on vegetation than rocks. Females often common in open areas near water, perched in low vegetation and on ground. Pairs oviposit in live herbaceous stems or floating dead vegetation at water surface. Reproductive life averages 4–5 days, maximum 2 weeks.
Habitat Small to large streams and rivers, often most common where much herbaceous vegetation along shore but also found in open, rocky stretches. Wide habitat tolerance probably contributes to general abundance and wide range.
Flight Season CA Feb–Dec, AZ Mar–Dec, NM Mar–Nov, NE Jun–Sep, TX Jan–Dec.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Baja California, Querétaro, and Veracruz, and in East from Nebraska, Michigan, and New Jersey south.
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Blue-ringed Dancer male—Caldwell Co., TX, July 2004; female—Upson Co., GA, May 2006
Description Small blue-and-black dancer of sedgy habitats. Head with much black above, postocular spots quite narrow. Male: Black of top of head extends out as short stripe onto each eye, as if eye has black pupil. Thorax blue with black median and fairly wide forked humeral stripes. Fork varies from rarely absent to one-third of stripe length. S1–2 blue, S2 with narrow black dorsolateral stripes ending in bulge and turning inward to point, like neck, head, and bill of bird. Middle segments of abdomen with black dorsolateral stripes almost filling space available (rarely leaving fine middorsal line), so looks dark with narrow blue rings and light brown to blue on sides. At darkest, entire middle of abdomen black; at lightest, stripes may end so second blue ring visible at two-thirds length of middle segments. S7 entirely black above, S8–10 blue with black low on sides (little on S8, extensive on S10). Female: Polymorphic, entirely brown or thorax light blue, abdomen light brown to blue. Eyes tan with limited dark brown cap. Color pattern as in male but humeral stripe often narrower, abdomen with narrow to broad incomplete dark-pointed dorsolateral stripes and dorsal blotches at ends of segments; stripes complete and vivid on S7–9.
Identification Male most like Blue-ringed Dancer, with which it occasionally occurs, but Paiute has distinctly wider antehumeral stripes (thorax looks as much blue as black in front) and narrower, forked humeral stripes. Blue-ringed entirely black above on middle segments with wider basal rings that make its name appropriate. In many male Paiute, pale color of sides visible from above at two points on each middle segment; thus, abdomen looks more patterned. No pale color visible on sides of Blue-ringed abdomen. Heteromorph female Paiute not too dissimilar from Blue-ringed, but paired abdominal stripes usually also evident, not so in Blue-ringed. Tip of abdomen entirely pale in female Blue-ringed, with black markings in Paiute. Female occurs with female Aztec Dancer (and, more rarely, California Dancer) in marshy wetlands, on average more vividly striped on abdomen but distinguished for certain only by examination of mesostigmal plates. Male Paiute more purplish-blue than most other dancers with which it might occur.
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Paiute Dancer male—Harney Co., OR, July 2005; brown female—Inyo Co., CA, June 2003; blue female—Harney Co., OR, July 2005
Natural History Males can be common in and at edge of dense marsh vegetation, especially tall bulrushes, also out in low sedges, especially when at water. Pairs become more common in midafternoon.
Habitat Shallow sedge marshes, often associated with springs, hot springs in the northern part of the range. Also small sandy streams that flow out of such springs, with slight current and abundant sedges.
Flight Season OR Apr–Sep, CA Apr–Nov, MT May–Oct, AZ Jun–Sep, NM Mar–Nov, NE Jun–Aug, TX Apr–May.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Chihuahua, also east through Iowa to northern Missouri.
83 Leonora’s Dancer Argia leonorae TL 28–32, HW 15–19
Description Small Texas dancer of sedgy areas, more blue than black. Postocular spots small. Male: Eyes blue. All blue except for black markings, which are surprisingly variable. Thorax with wide median stripe and humeral stripe varying from wide and shallowly forked to narrow and deeply forked. Black markings on side of S2 variable, either spot at rear or stripe along side, may or may not meet across rear of segment. S3–6 with posterior black ring prolonged forward into dorsolateral points or median point extending from a bit less than halfway to as much as almost entire segment; abdomen in most heavily marked individuals looks black above with blue rings but extensively blue from side. S7 mostly black above but still with prominent blue sides, S8–10 blue with black stripe low along sides of all segments. Female: Eyes brown. Entirely brown except for black markings. Humeral stripe narrow, unforked or showing faint fork. S2–5 with small basal and large apical dorsolateral spots, in some individuals fused on most segments; S6–8 with stripes large enough so most of upper surface black; S9 with paired incomplete stripes.
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Leonora’s Dancer male, female—Jim Hogg Co., TX, June 2005
Identification No other blue dancer is so variable in amount of black. Those with maximum amount look something like Blue-ringed Dancer from above but show much more blue from the side. In Blue-ringed, little or no blue is visible from the side except on rings. Also, Blue-ringed has wider median and humeral stripes, thus much narrower blue antehumeral stripe. Leonora’s less like Paiute Dancer because Paiute has black markings extending from front of segment pinched off before posterior black ring, whereas black of Leonora’s widens to rear. These two species not known to overlap in range. Striped abdominal pattern of female Leonora’s shared with several other dancers of similar size that overlap in range: Amethyst, Aztec, Lavender, and Variable. Unfortunately, all are similar enough that capture and examination of mesostigmal plates are necessary to distinguish them, although Amethyst probably distinguishable by narrower median stripe. Female Comanche has similar pattern but is considerably larger and has complete stripes along middle abdominal segments.
Natural History Males perch in streamside sedge beds and are rather sedentary. At times both sexes common in herbaceous vegetation near breeding sites. Both males and females watched at one weedy site regularly opened and closed wings, seemingly more than in other damselflies. More observations needed.
Habitat Slow streams and seeps and small ponds, usually associated with clumps of very fine, long-stemmed sedges that fall over in tangles rather than standing upright. Often associated with Blue-ringed Dancers.
Flight Season TX May–Nov.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Nuevo León.
84 Golden-winged Dancer Argia rhoadsi TL 34–37, HW 18–21
Description Bright blue and black dancer of south Texas with golden-brown wings. Male: Eyes blue. Thorax with moderate median stripe, humeral stripe seemingly either wide and shallowly notched or much narrower and more deeply forked, intermediates not seen. S2 with black side stripes joined across middle. S3–7 black with narrow blue basal ring, S3 with narrow blue midline; S8–10 entirely blue. Thorax and even abdomen become darker and duller in tandem pairs. Female: Polymorphic, entirely brown or with pale blue-green wash mixed with brown on head, thorax, and abdomen. Brown eyes. Thoracic pattern as male but stripes duller, brown instead of black. Abdomen with dark brown dorsolateral stripes on S2–3, fused across middle so S4–7 entirely dark above with pale basal rings; S8–10 pale.
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Golden-winged Dancer male—Hidalgo Co., TX, November 2005; female—Kinney Co., TX, August 2004, Martin Reid
Identification Male somewhat similar to male Blue-ringed Dancer but a bit larger and paler, more sky-blue, with narrower, forked humeral stripe (the best mark). Blue ring on S3 prolonged backward, not so in Blue-ringed. Blue-ringed in Texas with wings only lightly tinted with color at most. Females also similar, and with tinted wings, but wings of female Golden-winged darker yet. Also has black markings on head, darker stripes on thorax, more distinct dark stripes on abdomen than Blue-ringed. Golden-winged with blue thorax easily distinguished, as Blue-ringed has no andromorph female with that coloration.
Natural History Males perch in vegetation along streams and at pond edges. Males and pairs also seen at outer edge of riparian belt above stream in morning, become more common at water in afternoon. Rather elusive, often fly back into vegetation when disturbed. Both sexes watched at one site regularly opened and closed their wings, more apparent than other damselflies in same area. Pairs oviposited in grass at rain pools in Mexico.
Habitat Dense herbaceous vegetation at border of slow streams, often associated with spring runs. Also found during rainy season in Mexico at isolated rain pools, unusual habitat for a dancer.
Flight Season TX Mar–Dec.
Distribution Ranges south in eastern Mexico to Puebla and Veracruz.
85 Variable Dancer Argia fumipennis TL 29–34, HW 18–23
Description Small violet dancer with two-colored abdomen tip. Male: Eyes brown above, violet below. General coloration violet. Thorax with narrow median stripe and narrow humeral stripe with long and divergent fork; lower sides white. Black markings on abdomen include narrow dorsolateral line ending in triangle on S2, complete or almost-complete rings on S3–6, almost all of S7, and conspicuous lower edges of S8–10. S8 violet-blue, S9 blue, S10 blue tinged slightly with violet, unique color pattern among North American damselflies. Female: Eyes brown. Coloration brown or reddish-brown with thoracic markings as male. Abdomen with dorsolateral black stripes continuous on all middle segments, extending back to S8 and faintly on S9; most of last three segments pale but also indistinct black ventrolateral stripe on S8. No blue female.
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Variable Dancer male, female—Tyler Co., TX, May 2005
Identification Male likely to be mistaken for other violet dancers, especially Lavender Dancer. Differs from that species by typically having S8 violet in contrast with blue S9–10 (but violet blue enough that confusion possible), also having conspicuous black lower edges of S8–10, whereas Lavender has short and not very conspicuous stripes low on S8–9 (good side view necessary to see this). Mature males often but not always show white dot on side of thorax behind humeral stripe that seems distinctive when present, but not seen in Lavender. Male Lavender also has very white sides, more contrasty white than Variable. No other violet species, including Kiowa and Springwater that occur with Variable, shows contrast between purple S8 and blue S9–10. Female in group with narrow forked or un-forked humeral stripe and dark abdominal stripes extending length of S8 and onto S9, much as do female Amethyst, Aztec, Lavender, Leonora’s, and Paiute. Amethyst has very narrow median stripe, but all others could be confused with Variable, so either capture them and look closely at their mesostigmal plates or associate them with male in mating pair.
Natural History Common over riffles and in vegetation along pools. Males rest on rocks, ground, or vegetation at water. Often slowly open and close wings. Pairs oviposit on live and dead plant stems and detritus at surface, occasionally submerging.
Habitat Wide habitat choice, from small streams and ditches with much vegetation to open sandy lake shores. More often at ponds than most other dancers.
Flight Season MT Jun–Aug, AZ Apr–Oct, NM Apr–Nov, NE May–Sep, TX Mar–Nov.
Distribution Sparsely distributed in western part of range. Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Durango and Hidalgo, throughout East from southern Ontario and Nova Scotia south.
Comments All western populations are subspecies Argia fumipennis violacea, which has been called Violet Dancer. Two other subspecies in Southeast have dark wings.
86 Lavender Dancer Argia hinei TL 30–35, HW 17–21
Description Slender violet dancer of the Southwest. Male: Eyes dark brown above, tan below, with bluish-green tinge around dark cap. Thorax violet with moderate median stripe and narrow, forked humeral stripe; lower sides become whitish pruinose and often blue-tinged. Abdomen mostly violet, dark markings include narrow dorsolateral line ending in triangle on S2, partial or complete rings on S3–6, spots with pointed tails on S4–6, almost all of S7, and indistinct stripes on lower edges of S8–9; S8–10 blue. Female: Eyes brown, body brown with reddish tinge. Color pattern as male but prominent black dorsolateral stripes extend from basal spots on S2–7. S8 with broad but incomplete stripe, S9 with shorter one, faint ventrolateral stripe on S8–9. No blue female.
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Lavender Dancer male—Travis Co., TX, June 2005; female—Presidio Co., TX, February 2000, Robert A. Behrstock
Identification Delicate and slender damselfly, most like Variable Dancer, but S8 blue rather than violet, stripes on sides of S8–9 short and sometimes faint. Eyes not violet as in that species. Other violet dancers even less similar. Kiowa duller, darker purple with big spots on bases of middle abdominal segments. Springwater a bit larger with narrow, un-forked humeral stripe. Females usually with forked humeral stripe, abdominal stripes continuous on middle segments and extending onto S8–9, most like Variable Dancer but distinguished by association with male or examination of mesostigmal plates. Aztec, California, and Paiute have middle segments with anterior stripe and posterior spot not connected. Amethyst has narrow median stripe on thorax.
Natural History Males perch on vegetation or rocks, usually at riffles. Pairs oviposit in shallow riffles in upright or trailing sedges, submerged roots, or floating leaves.
Habitat Small to medium streams, usually with much emergent vegetation; often at spring runs. Occasionally at ponds with open sandy edges.
Flight Season CA May–Oct, AZ Mar–Nov, NM May–Nov, TX Apr–Oct.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Sinaloa and Coahuila.
87 Amethyst Dancer Argia pallens TL 32–35, HW 20–22
Description Slender red-violet dancer of southwestern streams. Male: Eyes reddish-brown. Body red-violet, becoming increasingly blue-violet toward abdomen tip, but not blue. Thorax with narrow median and unforked humeral stripes, becomes pruinose white below with age. Abdomen with black lateral spots on S2–7, fusing into rings on S6–7; S7 also has black lateral stripe; S8–9 with black stripe low on sides. Female: Eyes brown. Thorax patterned as male. Abdomen with narrow dorsolateral stripes on S2–9, may be interrupted on more basal segments and reduced on S8–9.
Identification Male unmistakable, as no other dancer in its range is such a reddish shade of violet (the color of amethyst, in fact). Could be confused with females, as it looks brown at a distance. Even tip of abdomen not blue as in other dancers. Female in group with spotted abdomen with striped tip. Differs from others of group (Aztec, California, Lavender, Variable) in narrow median stripe and unforked humeral stripe (forked stripe typical of others, but some individuals unforked).
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Amethyst Dancer male—Graham Co., AZ, August 2007; female—Cochise Co., AZ, June 2004, Robert A. Behrstock
Natural History Males perch on sun-bathed rocks, most common in open, rocky parts of streams but may also be found at other extreme, on vegetation in shaded pools. Pairs or lone females oviposit in emergent or floating herbaceous stems and leaves, including sago pondweed, at water surface.
Habitat Prefers open, rocky parts of shallow streams and rivers.
Flight Season AZ Mar–Nov, NM Feb–Oct.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands to Guatemala.
88 Spine-tipped Dancer Argia extranea TL 32–37, HW 18–23
Description Heavily marked blue dancer of southwestern streams. Male: Eyes blue, uppermost part black. Entirely blue to purplish-blue with moderate median stripe and narrow humeral stripe, latter widened in lower half and with large rectangle at lower end. Black irregular polygon on side of S2 notched at rear; pointed anterior spot or stripe on each side and apical ring on S3–6, the two joined on S6; S7 almost entirely black, S8–10 blue with black stripe low on sides of S8–9. Female: Polymorphic, either entirely brown or with blue thorax and abdomen tip (rarely blue on rest of abdomen). Color pattern as male, black on abdomen a bit more extensive with dorsolateral stripes often extending full length of segments; thus, abdomen can look either spotted or striped; S8–10 usually unmarked except for pair of tiny basal black spots at base of S9.
Identification More purplish males, especially immature ones, could be mistaken for Springwater Dancer, but that species has paraprocts shorter without obvious long point and lower expanded part of humeral stripe with smaller rectangle. Also, Springwater shows no black on lower edge of S8–9 and usually no anterior dark spot on S3. Spine-tipped not known from range of blue eastern populations of Springwater. Kiowa Dancer, somewhat similarly marked, is duller, more purplish, and with larger stripes on middle segments joined across segment, producing two rings per segment. Also similar to rare Yaqui Dancer, which has rather broad forked or unforked humeral stripe. Black marking on S2 of male, with notch at rear end, distinguishes from Apache and Springwater of same area, but not Yaqui. Female in group of southwestern species with spotted abdomen and mostly unmarked tip (S8–10). Very much like female Apache, Springwater, and Tarascan Dancers, also with narrow humeral stripe, but black at lower end of humeral stripe more expanded in Spine-tipped than in Apache or Tarascan. Apache also has very narrow median thoracic stripe, and Tarascan has only sparse spotting on middle abdominal segments. Extremely like female Springwater but almost always with black spots on S9, lacking in all but about 10% of Springwater. In Spine-tipped, posterior edge of mesostigmal plate is straight; in Springwater, it bulges to rear on either side of median carina. Others of that type that might be confused with Spine-tipped include Kiowa, Sabino, and Yaqui Dancers, all with split or forked humeral stripe.
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Spine-tipped Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, August 2006, Netta Smith; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, August 2003, Doug Danforth
Natural History Males perch on rocks or vegetation, usually at riffles. Pairs oviposit in herbaceous plants such as watercress in riffles.
Habitat Small to medium rocky and sandy streams with moderate current and usually much emergent vegetation; in open or with shrubby or riparian borders. Also seepage areas above streams.
Flight Season AZ Apr–Nov.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands to Colombia.
89 Aztec Dancer Argia nahuana TL 28–35, HW 18–23
Description Small sky-blue dancer of southwestern weedy streams. Male: Bright blue all over, thorax with narrow black median and humeral (usually forked) stripes. S2 with pair of subapical black spots, S3–6 with black ring at rear, S7 mostly black, S8–10 blue with black stripe low on sides. Rare lightly marked individuals have median stripe narrower, humeral stripe unforked, and/or S7 all blue. Female: Polymorphic, brown or blue (andromorph rare). Eyes brown in brown female, blue in blue female. Color pattern as male but black dorsolateral stripes ending in points along each abdominal segment, continuous on S7, usually incomplete on S8–9, lacking on S10.
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Aztec Dancer male—Cochise Co., AZ, September 2005; brown female, blue female—Chihuahua, Mexico, September 2005
Identification Virtually identical to California Dancer in field and overlaps with it locally in Nevada, California, and Arizona; note differences in pattern of dark markings on S2 under that species. Females will have to be captured and scrutinized with at least a hand lens if not a microscope, although close-up photo of male appendages from above could distinguish them. See California Dancer for details. Other than this difficult pair, male Aztec most likely to be confused with Vivid, which is slightly larger and darker blue with black basal spots on middle abdominal segments. Both sexes of Aztec likely to have forked humeral stripe, uncommon variant in Vivid Dancer, but anterior spots on middle segments should still distinguish male Vivid. In females, note larger mesostigmal plates of Vivid that are entirely flat and project toward the rear as a flange rather than having tubercle at inner margin. Female Aztec quite similar to female Amethyst, Lavender, Leonora’s, and Variable; capture will be necessary to distinguish them. Andromorph females have blue eyes, unusual in dancers (condition in California Dancer not known). Finally, note small percentage of Aztec males with S7 largely blue. Could be confused with Pima and Sierra Madre Dancers because of this, but both of the latter much larger, with longer black marking on S2.
Natural History Typically perches in vegetation at riffles. Pairs oviposit in herbaceous vegetation, including grass leaves, at water level.
Dancers - male appendages
Habitat Small streams with open banks but abundant emergent vegetation, both sedges and watercress. Usually at riffles rather than pools.
Flight Season OR Aug–Sep, CA Apr–Nov, AZ Mar–Nov, NM Mar–Nov, NE Jun–Aug, TX Mar–Nov.
Distribution Sparsely distributed in Great Basin and eastern Great Plains. Ranges south in Mexico to Jalisco.
90 California Dancer Argia agrioides TL 30–34, HW 18–20
Description Small sky-blue dancer of west coast streams. Male: Bright blue all over, thorax with black median and narrow humeral stripes; humeral stripe usually but not always forked. S2 with black stripe on each side, stripe broken into anterior and posterior spots, or only posterior spot on either side. S3–6 with black ring at rear, S7 mostly black, S8–10 blue with black stripe low on sides. Female: Polymorphic, brown or blue, but blue females must be quite rare. Color pattern as in male but black dorsolateral stripes ending in points along each abdominal segment, continuous on S7, usually lacking on S8–9 but present in small proportion of individuals.
Identification Big identification problem here is with identical-looking Aztec Dancer. One difference in males involves black markings on S2. Aztec west of plains always has apical spot on either side, California either spot or stripe, often wider at ends (front and back end of stripe not joined in some). This means that in areas of overlap, individuals with stripes should be California, those with spots must be captured or at least photographed close-up. With a good hand lens or sharp photo from above, tip of abdomen can be examined and species easily distinguished, California with gap between paired tori (see Glossary) about width of each torus, Aztec with gap narrower than tori. Females more difficult, but in California, middorsal carina splits toward front well before mesostigmal plates, whereas in Aztec, it remains narrow and diverges only after passing between mesostigmal plates. Female California typically lacks markings on S8–9, Aztec typically has them, but both vary so that this character is not definitive. Other than this difficult pair, male California most likely to be confused with Vivid, which is slightly larger and darker blue with black basal spots on middle abdominal segments. Both sexes of California likely to have forked humeral stripe, uncommon variant in Vivid. Abdominal pattern still distinguishes males. Females distinguished by larger mesostigmal plates of Vivid entirely flat, projecting toward rear as flange rather than having tubercle at inner margin. California also looks distinctly smaller than Vivid, once you gain familiarity with both.
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California Dancer male—Shasta Co., CA, July 2004, Ray Bruun; brown female—Maricopa Co., AZ, June 2007, Pierre Deviche
Natural History Males at outer edge of and in emergent vegetation over stream, less often on rocks. Pairs oviposit in tandem, usually flat on plants at water surface.
Habitat Shallow sandy and rocky streams in open with moderate current and beds of vegetation such as watercress. More often at larger streams than Aztec Dancer.
Flight Season OR Jun–Sep, CA Apr–Nov, AZ Apr–Nov.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Baja California Sur.
91 Yaqui Dancer Argia carlcooki TL 29–32, HW 17–20
Description Blue dancer barely present in United States. Postocular spots large, two dashes between them. Male: Eyes black over blue. All blue except for following black markings: wide median stripe and moderate humeral stripe, either deeply forked, outer fork wider than inner, or wide with only shallow fork; irregular polygon on side of S2, low basal spot on each side and apical ring on S3–6, all of S7 except narrow basal ring, and lower sides of S8–10. Female: Polymorphic. Eyes brown, body blue or brown. Thorax patterned as in male but humeral stripe often partially obscured by brown. Abdomen pale, middle segments with two pairs each of dorsolateral and ventrolateral long oval spots on each; spots joined to make most of S7 black; S8–10 mostly pale, black low on sides of S8. Unusually, extent of black markings may vary seasonally, less extensive early in flight season and more so later. More observations needed.
Identification Only other male dancers along southern Arizona border with same abdominal pattern of dark markings both fore and aft on middle segments are Apache, Kiowa, Spine-tipped, and Springwater Dancers. Kiowa and Springwater both violet. Spine-tipped differs from Yaqui in prominent square lower end of relatively narrow and unforked humeral stripe, also long tip of paraprocts often visible at close range. Apache differs from Yaqui in reduced anterior spots on middle abdominal segments and very small black spot on S2. Female as females of many other dancers in size and geographic range but most like those with spotted S4–6 and unmarked S8–10. Distinguished from others of this group as follows. From Apache, Spine-tipped, Springwater, and Tarascan by wider, forked humeral stripe, and from Sabino by less developed fork (narrow and parallel to stripe in Yaqui, wide and diverging from stripe in Sabino). Yaqui also averages slightly smaller than those other species. Yaqui seems more likely than these or other species to have both anterior and posterior spots on sides of middle segments doubled, a larger upper one on top of a smaller lower one, although this also in Spine-tipped and Springwater. See diagrams of mesostigmal plates.
Natural History Males perch on leaves and rocks, usually at riffles. Pairs oviposit in emergent vegetation.
Habitat Shallow, slow-flowing sandy and rocky streams, small to medium in size, with shrubby or open borders and often abundant emergent vegetation such as grasses and watercress. Often at spring runs.
Flight Season AZ Sep.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Oaxaca.
Comments Tandem pair photographed at spring in San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Arizona, but no further record. Dancers of this type should be closely scrutinized in that area. Kiowa Dancer, although rather local in Arizona, found at same spring another year.
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Yaqui Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, September 2004; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, June 2004, Doug Danforth
92 Kiowa Dancer Argia immunda TL 33–38, HW 19–25
Description Robust dull purple dancer, heavily marked with black. Male: Eyes violet, paler beneath. Head, thorax, and much of abdomen violet. Thorax with wide median stripe, moderately wide forked humeral stripe. Black abdominal markings include large polygon on S2, wide black rings and large black basal spots on S3–6, black spots larger toward rear, often fused with ring on S6 and rarely reaches ring on S3–5; S7 almost entirely black; S8–10 blue with continuous black stripe low along sides. Female: Polymorphic. Eyes brown. All brown or head, thorax, and S8–10 blue. Patterned as male, but dorsolateral abdominal spots usually longer, in some forming stripes. S8–10 usually plain but may have indistinct ventrolateral stripe, especially on S8.
Identification Male distinctive by dull violet coloration with large basal spots on middle segments, making abdomen look heavily spotted. Other violet dancers with basal markings on middle segments (Lavender, Springwater, Variable) all have markings much smaller, so middle segments largely unspotted. Still other violet species (Emma’s, Tonto) have no anterior markings on middle segments. Exceptionally dark individuals, with only pale rings on middle segments, recall Blue-ringed Dancer but of course are violet. Heavily marked middle segments of female contrast with unmarked S8–10, but a few other species similar. Female Yaqui most similar, examination of mesostigmal plates necessary to distinguish them. Female Spine-tipped distinguished by narrow humeral stripe expanded at lower end and pair of dark spots on S9. Apache, Springwater, and Vivid also similar, but all have narrow, unforked humeral stripe, and Apache has very narrow median thoracic stripe abruptly widened at front end.
Natural History Males and pairs common in vegetation in riffles, where they oviposit in green stems. Females often on ground away from water.
Habitat Small to medium rocky streams in open; may have shrubby or riparian borders.
Flight Season AZ Mar–Nov, NM Mar–Nov, TX Jan–Dec.
Distribution Ranges south to Belize, also in northwestern Arkansas.
92
Kiowa Dancer male—Graham Co., AZ, August 2007; blue female—Brewster Co., TX, November 2007, Netta Smith
Description Bright blue, fairly large dancer rare in Southwest. Male: Eyes black above, blue below. Thorax blue with rather narrow median stripe and narrow, unforked humeral stripe. Abdomen blue, dark rings at rear of S3–6 with points extending forward on either side; almost all of S7 black, S8–10 blue bordered by black at lower edge. Some with black rings more extensive, S6 may be mostly black. When in tandem, color of thorax shifts from blue to dull purple. Female: Eyes brown above, tan below. Polymorphic, thorax brown with blue tinge or entirely blue with narrow dark stripes of male often somewhat obscured by brownish. Abdomen mostly dull blue, middle segments with dark brown posterior ring and stripe extending forward on either side almost to front of segment; thus, prominently striped. S7–9 with dark dorsolateral stripes, extending full or not quite full length of S8, only two-thirds length of S9, but sides of segments completely striped to S9; S10 entirely blue.
Identification Male must be distinguished from other mostly blue, black-ringed (black at rear of segments, no markings at front) dancers in its range. Most similar is Tarascan, about same size, bright blue, and with S7 mostly black. Differs from it in narrower thoracic stripes, humeral unforked; also Tarascan has simple black rings, Harkness’s rings with points on either side and often more black. Sabino has widely forked humeral stripe, usually more purplish-blue. Aztec and California both obviously smaller, usually with forked humeral stripe. Pima and Sierra Madre slightly larger, with mostly blue S7. Female Harkness’s distinguished by moderate-width unforked humeral stripe, entirely striped abdomen including tip. Most like Sierra Madre, which is larger with narrower humeral stripe; also like Pima, which has widely forked humeral stripe. Somewhat similar Springwater and Tarascan have tip of abdomen unstriped.
Natural History Males perch on vegetation or rocks, usually at riffles. Ovipositing pairs collect in shallow riffles with abundant rootlets.
Habitat Fair-sized rivers with moderate current.
Flight Season AZ Jun.
Distribution So far known in United States only from San Francisco River, Greenlee County, Arizona. Ranges south in western Mexico to Guerrero.
93
Harkness’s Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, August 2006, Netta Smith; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, August 2006
Description Bright blue dancer of southwestern forested streams. Male: Eyes dark blue. Wide median and humeral stripes, latter with short to long fork, forks even or outer fork thicker. Side stripe of S2 expanded at rear. Black rings on S3–6, S7 mostly black, S8–10 entirely blue. Front of thorax becomes dull purplish when in tandem. Female: Polymorphic, either brown or with much blue. Eyes brown. Median stripe dark brown, borders sometimes obscure, with black median carina; humeral stripe scarcely evident but slightly enlarged at both ends, rarely forked (quite unlike that of male). Abdomen pale with obscure darker dorsolateral stripes on S2–7, more distinct dark dorsal apical spots on S2–6.
Identification Male most like Pima and Sierra Madre Dancers because of lack of basal markings on middle segments, but black S7 distinctive in Arizona. Males with forked humeral stripes patterned much as Sabino Dancer but brighter blue and with less than half of S6 black. Female very plain, black apical spots on midabdomen and darker S7 most conspicuous part of pattern in most and only like one other dancer, Blue-ringed, which is a bit smaller, with strongly amber-tinted wings, black median carina only a hairline if visible at all (more conspicuous in Tarascan), and prominent upright black mesostigmal plates (plates present but not conspicuous in Tarascan). When midabdomen stripes more evident, could be confused with other dancers with narrow humeral stripes such as Spine-tipped and Springwater, but humeral stripe not ending in bold black area at lower end. Median stripe wider than in Apache Dancer.
Natural History Males perch mostly on woody vegetation overhanging pools, but both sexes also on rocks.
Habitat Stream and river banks, wooded or open, with overhanging vegetation; more likely to be at pools than riffles. Irrigation ditches farther south in Mexico.
Flight Season AZ May–Nov.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Oaxaca.
94
Tarascan Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, September 2005; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, July 2003
Description Large bright blue dancer of southwestern canyons. Postocular spots relatively narrow. Male: Eyes blue. Thorax blue with moderate median stripe and narrow forked or unforked humeral stripe, widened into rectangular blotch at lower end. Abdomen blue with black polygon on sides of S2, black rings on S3–7, incomplete on basal segments and with forward side-stripe extension on S7; S8–10 entirely blue. Female: Eyes brown. Perhaps polymorphic; thorax and abdomen brown, may be bluish tinge on sides of thorax and/or base of abdomen; S8–10 blue. Pattern as male but usually narrow dark dorsolateral stripes on S2–7; paired black basal spots on S8–9.
Identification Most similar species Pima Dancer, from which it differs primarily in shape of humeral stripe in both sexes; see that species. Other large blue dancers in range include Tarascan and Harkness’s, which are smaller with all-black S7. Those two species also have humeral stripe either unforked or with both forks about evenly wide and complete black rings on S3–4 (Sierra Madre incomplete). Females distinguished from all other female dancers except Pima and Tonto by distinct paired spots on bases of S8–9. Pima differs by humeral stripe as in male. Tonto differs by not having blue morph, and if all Sierra Madre have blue abdomen tip, they should be distinguishable. The two species occur together frequently.
Natural History Males perch on rocks or vegetation, even well above stream in shade.
Habitat Typically on small, rocky streams in woodland or forest.
Flight Season AZ May–Nov.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands to Belize.
95
Sierra Madre Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, September 2005; brown female—Cochise Co., AZ, July 2003
96 Pima Dancer Argia pima TL 35–43, HW 22–28
Description Large extensively blue dancer of southwestern mountain streams. Postocular spots relatively narrow. Male: Eyes blue. Entirely blue, thorax with wide median and humeral stripes, latter forked with outer fork much wider than inner. S2 with lateral stripe extended toward middle at rear end. Incomplete rings on S3–4, complete rings on S5–7; S8–10 entirely blue. Front of thorax turns purplish in males in tandem. Female: Eyes dark brown above, pale greenish to tan below. Entirely brown except S8–10 or S9–10 dull blue. Thoracic stripes as in male, lower sides of thorax may be bluish tinged, but bright andromorph not seen. S2–6 with complete dorsolateral stripes or S3–6 fused with apical rings; S7 all black; S8–9 with paired basal spots.
96
Pima Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, September 2004; female—Sonora, Mexico, September 2005
Identification One of two large blue dancers in North America that have S7 mostly blue. Sierra Madre Dancer very similar but sufficiently larger that size alone should distinguish species. Pima has forked humeral stripe, Sierra Madre usually unforked, but in Sierra Madre with forked stripe both forks narrow, quite distinct from Pima, with outer fork much wider. Tarascan very similar but with S7 usually black. Female Pima and Sierra Madre very similar in having striped abdomen with paired basal spots (or bilobed pattern) on top of S8 and S9, distinguished from one another by humeral stripe as in male. Also differs from female Tonto Dancer, with similar abdominal pattern, by broad, forked humeral stripe. Somewhat similar Harkness’s Dancer has more heavily striped abdomen tip.
Natural History Males on rocks above stream, usually at riffles. Pairs oviposit in riffles, in rootlets of woody streamside vegetation. Males release females that submerge during oviposition but may remain and guard them.
Habitat Small, often rocky streams with moderate current, usually in woodland or forest. Occurs with Sierra Madre Dancer on some streams.
Flight Season AZ Jul–Oct.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Sonora.
97 Sabino Dancer Argia sabino TL 35–40, HW 21–26
Description Blue-violet species of southwestern rock pools. Male: Eyes blue. Body somewhat purplish blue. Thorax with median stripe narrow, humeral stripe moderately broad and deeply and divergently forked; often conspicuous narrow stripe on side of thorax. Lateral stripes on S2 widened at end. Rings on S3–6, occupying half length of segment on S6; S7 mostly black, S8–10 all blue except for narrow black lateral smudges at the ends of each segment on many individuals. Female: Polymorphic, either brown or with blue wash on sides of thorax and blue-tipped abdomen. Eyes brown. Thorax patterned as male. Dorsolateral stripes on S1–4, fused with apical ring on S4 and across top of S5–7, so abdomen largely black above; S8–10 pale with tiny black apical spot low on side of S8.
Identification Male can be mistaken for other blue to violet species, even looking blue-gray, but broad humeral stripe with wider outer fork distinctive (shared only with much bluer Pima Dancer), as is somewhat purplish tinge. Black rings on abdomen wider than in other mostly blue dancers that may occur with it (Apache, Aztec, Spine-tipped, Tarascan, Yaqui). Especially look at S6, more than half covered by black; a good distant field mark. Bit of black at rear ends of S8–10 also distinctive but best seen in hand and not present on all. Female distinguished from all other dancers by unique combination of wide, conspicuously forked humeral stripe and much black on abdomen before entirely pale tip. Black spot low on S8 may also be good mark. In both sexes of Sabino, large pale postocular spot separated from eye by black line; in similar blue to violet species, pale area extends to eye.
97
Sabino Dancer male—Santa Cruz Co., AZ, September 2004; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, September 2004, Netta Smith
Natural History Males defend small territories on rocks near pools, even on sides of big boulders; move closer to stream by midday, as females come increasingly to water and mating occurs. Pairs oviposit in tandem by slowly backing underwater to several inches deep (may be up to a foot or more) and laying eggs among fine algal growth on rock faces. Pair floats to surface and separates after oviposition, may be under water for up to 37 min.
Habitat Open, rocky streams, most often encountered where stream runs over huge boulders, forming deep plunge pools.
Flight Season AZ May–Oct.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Jalisco.
98 Springwater Dancer Argia plana TL 33–40, HW 22–25
Description Common southwestern darner with blue and violet populations. Male: Eastern populations blue, with blue eyes, western populations (west of Texas) violet, with brown to violet to greenish eyes. Thorax with moderate median stripe and narrow unforked humeral stripe (rarely forked) widening at lower end. Lower part of thorax often bluish in violet populations. Black on abdomen: S2 with narrow (sometimes interrupted) stripe ending in triangle on each side; rings on S3–6, becoming wider on posterior segments; long pointed spot on S4–6, (rarely S3–6) joined to ring on S6; S7 mostly black with slight extension backward from pale basal ring; S8–10 entirely pale, often bluish in violet populations. Immature males may be mixed blue and pale violet. Female: Polymorphic, either brown or, depending on population, blue or violet, with eyes usually brown but blue in eastern populations. Blue/violet females can be those colors all over or just on thorax and/or abdomen tip. Thoracic markings as in male. Pointed narrow dorsolateral stripes on S2–7, fused with apical ring on S7; S8–10 entirely pale or rarely with small pair of basal spots on S9.
98.1
Springwater Dancer violet male—Cochise Co., AZ, September 2005; brown female—Cochise Co., AZ, August 2006; blue female—Gila Co., AZ, July 2007
98.2
Springwater Dancer blue male—Travis Co., TX, June 2005
Identification Male must be distinguished from species of similar color in range of both blue and violet types. Blue type overlaps with Vivid Dancer locally in western plains. Where they occur together, might be distinguishable by Vivid being slightly heavier-bodied than Springwater and usually having black spot at base of S3, usually lacking in Springwater (exceptions in both species). Otherwise, check cerci in top view: inner side distinctly longer than outer in Vivid, about same in Springwater. Other mostly blue species in range of blue males are Aztec and Comanche Dancers. Aztec smaller and lacks black basal markings at midabdomen. Comanche larger, with narrower median stripe and black lines along all middle segments (only on S6 if at all in Springwater). Other violet species in range of violet males are Apache, Kiowa, and Variable. Variable smaller, with forked humeral stripe and blue S9–10 (entire abdomen violet in Springwater). Kiowa has much more extensive black basal markings on mid abdomen. Apache most similar but usually blue, with very narrow median stripe. See also male Spine-tipped, which when immature looks much like Springwater. Some female Springwater have prominent basal spots on S9 and might be mistaken for female Sierra Madre or Tonto Dancer, with their narrow humeral stripes, but those two larger species always have obvious spots on S8–9. Female Springwater generally similar to two other species with unmarked abdomen tip and narrow humeral stripe. Of these, differs from Apache by broader median stripe. Spine-tipped most similar, always has black spots on S9 and further distinguishable by examination of mesostigmal plates (see Spine-tipped Dancer). Female Springwater differs from Kiowa, Sabino, Tarascan, and Yaqui Dancers by narrow, usually unforked humeral stripe.
Natural History Males typically perch on vegetation at shore or in water. Only eastern populations studied quantitatively. Males live more than 11 days, females more than 8 days after maturation, and both sexes mate one or two times during their lives. Males not territorial but may be spaced about 3 feet apart along streams because of aggressive behavior toward intruders. Copulation takes 19–40 min, tandem exploration 16–35 min, and oviposition 38–56 min. Pairs oviposit at surface in aquatic vegetation or floating detritus, also in damp clay adjacent to spring; separate quickly after oviposition.
Habitat Small to medium shallow streams, rocky and sandy, in or out of woodland; may be on quite small spring runs and hillside trickles, often at tiny seeps with no other species of dancers. Considered indicative of springs in some parts of range.
Flight Season AZ Jan–Nov, NM Apr–Nov, NE Jun–Sep, TX Jan–Dec.
Distribution Blue populations mostly east of New Mexico and south into northeastern Mexico, east to Wisconsin, Missouri, and Arkansas. Violet populations mostly west of Texas and south in uplands to Guatemala.
Dancers - male appendages
99 Vivid Dancer Argia vivida TL 29–38, HW 18–26
Description Large blue dancer common to north of related species. Male: Eyes blue. Bright blue with moderate median stripe and narrow, unforked (rarely forked) humeral stripe. S2 with lateral stripe expanded at rear. S3–6 with black apical ring and teardrop-shaped dorsolateral spot; S7 almost completely black, S8–10 entirely blue. Males in tandem or at low temperature may have duller, purplish thorax. Female: Polymorphic, some blue females as bright as any male and probably brightest female dancers (but also duller at low temperature). May be all brown, all blue, or blue thorax and abdomen tip, brown in between (least common). Eyes appropriately colored, blue in andromorph, unusual as most andromorph dancers have brown eyes. Thorax marked as in male; abdomen with subapical dorsal spots on S2–6, becoming larger toward rear but not fused with smaller ventrolateral spots; similarly, basal teardrop-shaped spots on S3–6 becoming stripes toward rear and fused with apical spots on more posterior segments; S7 mostly black, S8–10 pale, with small pair of basal spots on S9 (may be lacking). Immatures tan to cream-colored. Some populations in southeastern New Mexico with golden-tinted wings.
Identification Only blue dancer in northern part of its range, where it occurs with Emma’s Dancer, a violet species with narrow median stripe. Overlaps extensively with Aztec and California Dancers, from which it differs in having basal spots on middle segments and usually unforked humeral stripe. Also slightly larger and usually darker blue in color than those two species. Much like eastern blue populations of Springwater Dancer, with which it overlaps in western Great Plains and Rockies, but more robust with relatively shorter abdomen (typically wings in Springwater extend to end of S6, in Vivid to middle or even end of S7). Female Vivid usually has subapical spot on side of S2, whereas Springwater has stripe. See Springwater for other differences.
Natural History Males perch on rocks or vegetation adjacent to stream, but most mating occurs away from water, where males bask in morning sun and wait for females moving streamward. Copulation lasts about 30–40 min, followed by an hour of tandem flight before oviposition. Tandem pairs appear at water in late morning, oviposition most common at midday. Single females oviposit into later afternoon. Eggs laid just below water level in stems of aquatic plants. Immatures can be very common near stream, probably do not disperse very far from water in arid country they inhabit. Night roost sites in shrubs or trees, even up in canopy.
99.1
Vivid Dancer male—Grant Co., WA, May 2005; immature male—Grant Co., WA, August 2007
99.2
Vivid Dancer immature female—Grant Co., WA, May 2005; blue female—Inyo Co., CA, August 1973
Habitat Spring runs and small to medium streams with good current and much emergent vegetation. In open or with associated riparian belt. Both dense sedge beds and rocks can be common, and woody vegetation for roost sites is important. Hot springs in northern part of range. Also at flowing irrigation canals in open country. Typically at smaller and more heavily vegetated streams than Emma’s Dancer where they coexist.
Flight Season BC May–Sep, AB Jun–Sep, WA Mar–Oct, OR May–Oct, CA all year, MT Jun–Oct, AZ Mar–Nov, NM Mar–Oct, NE May–Oct.
Distribution Ranges south in Mexico to Baja California Sur.
100 Apache Dancer Argia munda TL 36–40, HW 22–27
Description Medium-sized bright blue dancer of southwestern mountain streams with early flight season. Male: Eyes dark blue over light blue. Body blue (Arizona) to bluish-violet (west Texas) except for black markings. Median stripe narrow but abruptly widened at lower end; humeral stripe narrow but expanded into small rectangle at lower end. Obvious pale line between darker front and lighter sides of thorax. S2 with small black dorsolateral spot, S3–6 with apical ring and small basal dorsolateral spot, S7 mostly black, S8–10 entirely blue, sometimes bluer than rest of body color. In tandem, color of front of thorax and much of abdomen shifts from blue to dull purple. Female: Polymorphic, either brown or blue/violet. Eyes brown in brown female, with distinct blue tinge in blue/violet female. Pattern on thorax and abdomen surprisingly like male in every way, including white markings on thorax, small spots on S3–6, and entirely pale S8–10.
100
Apache Dancer male—Cochise Co., AZ, July 2003; brown female—Santa Cruz Co., AZ, April 2007, Doug Danforth; blue female—Jeff Davis Co., TX, May 2005, Martin Reid
Identification Males slightly on darker or violet side of blue (except for abdomen tip), in comparison with species such as Aztec Dancer. Aztec lacks dark basal spots of Apache on middle segments, but Springwater has them. Springwater quite similar but darker violet where they occur together and with wider median stripe on thorax and larger black spots on S2. Springwater usually has black basal spot and apical ring connected by black stripe on S7, not connected on Apache. White line down side of thorax and white at base of first two legs (mostly on the basal leg segment, the coxa) seems to be distinctive for this species, although other species may be paler in that area. See also Spine-tipped and Yaqui Dancers. Female distinguished from similar species by these markings as well as male-like pattern of minimal markings on S3–7 and entirely pale S8–10. Generally similar to Spring-water, however, with minor differences: one apical spot on each side of S3 (two in Spring-water) and five antenodal cells (four in Springwater).
Natural History Males perch on rocks along stream bed, often at isolated pools when stream low. While awaiting summer rains, pairs may oviposit in low herbaceous plants in dry stream bed, quite unusual for dancers and most other pond damsels. Life history in Arizona seems to be different from those of many other dancers, with peak populations earlier in summer, then disappearing with appearance of monsoon rains. However, later records in New Mexico and Texas indicate some variation.
Habitat Rocky shallow streams with moderate current, drying into pools by midsummer.
Flight Season AZ May–Sep, NM Jul–Oct, TX May–Oct.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Durango and San Luis Potosí.
101 Comanche Dancer Argia barretti TL 38–43, HW 22–25
Description Large blue dancer of rocky rivers in Texas. Large postocular spots with two dashes between them rather than solid stripe. Male: Entirely blue, black thoracic markings include somewhat narrow median and narrow humeral stripes, the latter widening into rectangle at lower end. Black abdominal markings include distinctively jagged blotch on sides of S2, narrow ventrolateral lines and black apical rings on S3–6, much of S7 (except for basal blue ring or more extensive pointed dorsal stripe), and ventrolateral lines on S8–10. Female: Eyes brown. Polymorphic, either all brown or mostly blue, varying much in intensity. Color pattern as male on thorax but humeral stripe with only poorly defined enlargement at lower end; somewhat similar on abdomen, but stripes on sides of middle segments broader, leaving pale dorsal stripe on S2–6; also dorsolateral and ventrolateral stripes on S8–9 varying from faint (abdomen tip largely pale) to quite distinct (abdomen tip striped).
101
Comanche Dancer male, blue female—Uvalde Co., TX, June 2005
Identification This species larger than any other all-blue dancer in its range and with characteristic fine black lines extending forward from black rings on middle abdominal segments; lines visible from side, not distinctive from above. Variation in amount of black on S7 thus should pose no problem. Aztec Dancer much smaller with rings but not lines on middle segments and usually with forked humeral stripe. Springwater Dancer most similar but has black markings on sides of middle abdominal segments rather than complete lines, smaller black blotch on S2, and S9–10 entirely blue with no black on sides. Females very different looking from other large species with which they might occur: Dusky, Powdered, and Sooty Dancers. Colored most like female Springwater Dancer but continuous dark dorsolateral stripes enclosing central pale stripe from base almost to tip of abdomen; Springwater has two spots on each middle segment. Considerably larger than female Aztec Dancer, with unforked humeral stripe; that species also with spotted abdomen.
Natural History Males perch on rocks and in willows over stream. Pairs oviposit in vegetation in riffles.
Habitat Small to medium rocky streams, usually with swift current and often where herbaceous terrestrial vegetation projects from bare rock substrate.
Flight Season TX May–Nov.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Puebla.
102 Tonto Dancer Argia tonto TL 38–44, HW 25–29
Description Large violet dancer of southwestern mountains. Male: Eyes dark brown. Body violet, slightly reddish on thorax and becoming bluer toward abdomen tip. Narrow median stripe and narrow humeral stripe that widens in lower half and ends in large square. S2 with wide lateral stripe that extends across rear of segment; S3–6 with black apical rings; S7 almost entirely black; S8–10 violet with faint black stripes low on sides. Female: Eyes brown. Brown overall with moderate median stripe (distinctly wider than in male), humeral stripe as in male. Complete dorsolateral stripes on S2–6, S7 mostly black, S8–10 pale with paired black spots at base of S8–9 (that on S9 or both lacking in small percentage of individuals).
102
Tonto Dancer male—Cochise Co., AZ, August 2007; female—Cochise Co., AZ, August 1999, Robert A. Behrstock
Identification Male only robust violet damselfly with narrow median stripe and unspotted middle abdominal segments in range; larger than others that might be called violet (Lavender, Springwater, Variable), narrow median stripe diagnostic. No overlap known with Emma’s, perhaps most similar. Smaller Amethyst Dancer red-violet, not blue-violet. Female as other species with spotted S8–9. Unforked humeral stripe distinguishes from Pima and some Sierra Madre, but other Sierra Madre with unforked stripe might be distinguished only by mesostigmal plates.
Natural History Males typically on boulders at riffles. Both sexes feed in sunny clearings in nearby woodland. Pairs oviposit in submerged detritus and twigs along edge of stream.
Habitat Small rocky streams in or out of woodland in mountains.
Flight Season AZ May–Oct, NM Jun–Aug.
Distribution Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Morelos.
103 Emma’s Dancer Argia emma TL 33–40, HW 20–25
Description Violet dancer of western rivers. Male: Eyes violet, darker above. Basic body color violet, thorax with fine black median and humeral lines and whitish sides; black smudge on side of S2, black rings on S3–6, wider on S5 and much wider on S6; S7 mostly black, and S8–10 blue, with very little black low on sides. Female: Eyes brown. Polymorphic, either rich tan all over or thorax and abdomen base pale blue-green. Thorax marked as male, abdomen either entirely pale with black blotches at ends of S3–6 or in addition narrow black dorsolateral stripes from S3–7; S8–10 always entirely pale.
Identification No other violet/purple damselfly in its range. Most like Lavender Dancer to south but distinctly more robust; not known to overlap but might at south edge of Emma’s range. Female palest and least-marked dancer in range; very narrow median, and humeral stripes distinctive. Almost lightly enough marked to be confused with light-colored female Western Red Damsel, but Emma’s always with some black dancer markings on abdomen.
Natural History Males can be very common at breeding habitat, typically associated with no other species of dancers except, at some streams, Vivid. Females in nearby uplands, and pairs become common in afternoon, sometimes in clusters at appropriate oviposition sites, including floating vegetation of all sorts, rootlets of streamside trees, and emergent shore vegetation. Tandem pairs also common away from water, perhaps form there, and spend hours paired. More likely to perch on rocks and ground than vegetation.
103.1
Emma’s Dancer male—Benton Co., WA, August 2007; brown female—Yakima Co., WA, June 2005
103.2
Emma’s Dancer pairs with brown and violet females—Gilliam Co., OR, August 2004
Habitat Moderate to large streams and rivers, typically rocky but also with sand or mud substrates and with open banks or shrubby or riparian borders. Typical of larger rivers than most other western dancers but occurs also on small, swift, rocky streams, also large lakes with open, rocky shores in both forested and desert regions.
Flight Season BC Jun–Aug, WA Jun–Sep, OR May–Sep, CA Mar–Sep, MT Jun–Aug, NE Jun–Sep.
Distribution Also in western Iowa.
104 Sooty Dancer Argia lugens TL 40–50, HW 25–25
Description Large dark dancer, often with brown suffusion on wings. Male: Eyes dark brown. Thorax entirely black or black in front, gray below. Abdomen dark brown to black with tan low on sides of middle segments and narrow tan ring at base of S4–7, at least extreme ring barely visible; S8–10 black. In some populations, perhaps only along southern border, gray pruinosity overlays basic black of head and thorax. When in tandem, thoracic stripes usually become evident. Female: Polymorphic, all brown or with head and thorax light blue. Eyes brown. Thorax with split median stripe forming narrow dark stripe on each side of carina, fairly broad but almost completely divided humeral stripe. S2–7 with pale ring at base, dark dorsolateral stripes fusing at posterior end to dark ring; S8–9 with stripes usually incomplete, extending full length of segments in some. Immature male brown, with same pattern as female on thorax and abdomen, gets progressively darker with age until mostly black.
104
Sooty Dancer male—Santa Cruz Co., AZ, September 2005; brown female—Josephine Co., OR, July 2005, Jay Withgott; blue female—Chihuahua, Mexico, September 2005
Identification Largest dancer in region, followed by Comanche and Powdered, both of which occur with it but look very different. Nothing else in region looks like mostly blackish male except Tezpi Dancer, somewhat smaller and with white instead of tan rings on middle abdominal segments. Male Dusky Dancer has purple eyes and, usually, some blue at abdomen tip. Immature male and female Sooty have unique thoracic pattern with both median and humeral stripes split. In hand, note that stigma rather large, so crossvein below it contacts middle of stigma rather than only at either end as in all other western dancers but Powdered.
Natural History Males perch on large rocks mostly, also on sand, but much less often on plants. Females also perch on rocks when at water, tandem pairs as well. Females more often seen than those of many other dancers, perhaps merely because of larger size. Most mating in early afternoon, when tandem pairs frequently seen. Males usually not held erect in ovipositing pairs. Remain active in shade late in day, probably adaptive in its very hot habitat; also, males on rocks frequently fly out and touch water, presumably for cooling.
Habitat Small to medium open rocky streams with good current; may be bordered by riparian zone.
Flight Season OR Aug–Oct, CA Apr–Oct, AZ Apr–Nov, NM May–Oct, TX May–Oct
Distribution Ranges south in uplands of Mexico to Chiapas.
105 Blue-tipped Dancer Argia tibialis TL 30–38, HW 18–24
Description Dark but vividly marked dancer of eastern forests. Postocular spots small and separated to nonexistent, may be dashed line in younger individuals. Male: Eyes dark brown over tan, with tinge of blue. Thorax dark violet in front, whitish on sides, with rather narrow median stripe but quite broad humeral stripes. Abdomen entirely black with very narrow pale rings on S5–7, S9–10 blue. Males in tandem often have front of thorax dull red-violet, duller than usual, and this color also characteristic of individuals at low temperatures. Female: Polymorphic, entirely brown or head, thorax and abdomen base bright blue. Eyes dark brown over tan or greenish gray. Thorax with narrow median stripe and fairly broad forked humeral stripe, outer fork widest. Abdomen mostly black above, S10 and sometimes tip of S9 pale.
Identification Only dancer with its combination of violet, black, and white thorax and blue only on extreme abdomen tip. Thorax color distinguishes from blue-tipped stream-dwelling BLUETS such as Stream and Turquoise. Other female dancers in range and habitat with mostly dark abdomen are Blue-fronted, Dusky, and Powdered Dancers. Differs from all by its combination of prominently striped thorax and mostly black abdomen tip. Female Dusky has fully forked humeral stripe and striped abdomen tip. Females with bright blue, vividly striped thorax could also be mistaken for stream BLUETS, distinguished by lack of blue abdomen tip.
Natural History Males perch on streamside vegetation and rocks, often in shade. Females typically on ground in sunny patches in woodland, but both sexes prefer vegetation to rocks. Pairs oviposit on floating leaves, twigs, and rootlets, even on wet wood above water, sometimes in large aggregations.
Habitat Small wooded sandy streams with slow to moderate current and with or without riffles, less often larger rivers. More tied to forest streams than other dancers in its range.
Flight Season NE May–Sep, TX Apr–Sep.
Distribution Also in East from Minnesota, southern Ontario, and New York south.
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Blue-tipped Dancer male—Jackson Co., FL, June 2004; brown female—Putnam Co., FL, April 2005; blue female—Jackson Co., FL, June 2004
Description Slender dark dancer with limited blue. Postocular spots small, separated; younger individuals with line between them. Male: Eyes bright blue-violet. Thorax when immature shows moderate median stripe and fairly broad but almost completely split humeral stripes. Humeral stripe area, then entire thorax, becomes entirely dark gray to blackish with pruinosity during maturation. Abdomen black with narrow bluish basal rings on S3–6 or S3–7, most also with blue rings on S8–9, blue extending backward on sides of segments to produce somewhat blue-tipped abdomen. Considerable variation in this, from no blue to almost all of S9–10 blue above. Males in tandem undergo dramatic transformation, brightly marked thorax with pale tan to whitish sides and antehumeral stripes contrasting with black humeral stripes; single males sometimes seen like this, presumably after mating. Female: Polymorphic, light areas usually brown or with blue on head and dorsal stripe on abdomen. Thorax as immature male with deeply divided humeral stripe, outer fork wider. Black dorsolateral stripe on S2–10, fused with black apical ring top on S3–6; S7 mostly black. Contrasty ventrolateral stripe on S8–9 and base of S10, so abdomen tip vividly striped in side view.
106.1
Dusky Dancer male—Edwards Co., TX, July 2004; male—Tamaulipas, Mexico, November 2006, Marion Dobbs; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, August 2006
106.2
Dusky Dancer pair with striped male—Edwards Co., TX, July 2004
Identification No other dancer, or pond damsel for that matter, has blue on abdomen tip exactly as male of this species. Quite dark Tezpi Dancer superficially most similar, males easily distinguished by blackish eyes, brownish wings, and usual lack of blue color at abdomen tip. Tezpi often has darker thorax with metallic purple overtones lacking in Dusky. Sooty Dancer also has brown eyes, brownish wings, and no blue anywhere on abdomen. Female Dusky most like other species with heavily striped abdomen tip. See Coppery and Fiery-eyed Dancers for differences from those species. Female Tezpi similar but usually has humeral stripe less deeply forked, abdominal stripes not extending onto S10, brownish wings.
Natural History Males perch on rocks or vegetation adjacent to water. Pairs oviposit in herbaceous vegetation and rootlets at riffles. In woodland away from water, perch in trees.
Habitat Small to medium slow-flowing sandy or rocky streams or larger rivers, in quite open areas or with wooded banks.
Flight Season AZ May–Nov, NM Jun–Aug, TX Feb–Jan.
Distribution Sparsely distributed in southern Great Plains. Ranges south in lowlands to Argentina, widest distribution by far of any dancer species. Also in band across East from Missouri, southern Ontario, and Maine south to Arkansas and South Carolina.
107 Tezpi Dancer Argia tezpi TL 34–42, HW 22–26
Description Slender dark dancer of open rocky areas with brown-tinted wings. Postocular spots small, separated, become obscured with maturity. Male: Eyes dark brown, almost black, sharply paler beneath. Thorax metallic purple-black in front, sometimes showing narrow brown to reddish-purple antehumeral stripe, dark gray on sides. Abdomen black with narrow white rings at base of S4–7; S9–10 may be largely brown above, so tip looks a bit paler than rest of abdomen. Males in tandem with thorax more strongly patterned, pale yellowish antehumeral stripe and white sides. Female: Polymorphic, either all brown or with blue thorax. Eyes dark brown above, tan below. Thorax with moderate median stripe and broad humeral stripes that vary from undivided to deeply forked with outer fork much wider than inner; many forked about halfway. Abdomen largely dark above, black dorsolateral stripes extending to base of S9; also dark ventrolateral stripes on S8–9 varying from obscure to conspicuous.
Identification Overall dark body with four narrow white rings on middle abdominal segments distinctive. Male Sooty Dancer quite similar but clear-winged, a bit larger, and with rings tan rather than white. Sooty also usually shows more pale coloration on each middle segment and never shows slightly paler antehumeral stripe except when immature. Dusky Dancer also similar but has purple to purple-blue eyes, clear wings, and usually at least a bit of blue on abdomen tip. Pattern of pale markings on end of abdomen different, distal on S9–10 in Tezpi and basal on S8–9 on Dusky. Both species have contrasty black and white thorax when in tandem, sometimes in lone males. Female with end of abdomen striped, similar to female Dusky, but dorsolateral stripes at end of abdomen extend onto S10 in Dusky, not so in Tezpi. For some reason, striped pattern becomes obscure more often in Tezpi than in Dusky. Dusky always has deeply forked humeral stripe, Tezpi rarely so. Humeral stripe and abdomen striping of Tezpi more like female Fiery-eyed, but tinted wings should distinguish it from Fiery-eyed as well as Dusky.
107
Tezpi Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, August 2006, Netta Smith; brown female—Sonora, Mexico, September 2004; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, July 2005, Doug Danforth
Natural History Males usually on rocks in open. Both sexes in shady woodland when not at water, often perching in shrubs.
Habitat Open, rocky parts of shallow streams and rivers. Very often with Fiery-eyed Dancer.
Flight Season AZ May–Nov, TX May.
Distribution Ranges south on Mexican Plateau and in Pacific lowlands to Costa Rica.
108 Coppery Dancer Argia cuprea TL 38–42, HW 22–25
Description Red-eyed, copper-backed, mostly black dancer of Texas Hill Country. Postocular spots tiny, well separated. Male: Eyes bright red in front, dark brown over pale blue or greenish at rear. Thorax coppery-red in front and blue on sides; abdomen black with blue rings at anterior end of each segment (wider on S8), S9–10 entirely blue. Female: Eyes brown over pale blue or green. Polymorphic, pale color mostly light tan or light blue to gray. Front of eyes reddish-tinged, thorax striped with metallic red-black; abdomen prominently black-striped above, also side stripes on S8–9.
Identification Only species in its North American range in which male has bright red eyes and copper and blue thorax. Fiery-eyed Dancer of farther west superficially similar but with extensive blue or pale violet on abdomen (Coppery mostly black), S8–10 blue (S9–10 in Coppery). Females much more similar, but humeral stripe wide and undivided in Coppery, largely divided in Fiery-eyed. No known locations of co-occurrence in North America. Only other female with strongly striped abdomen and small postocular spots in range is Dusky Dancer, which also differs by divided humeral stripe. Front edge of eyes reddish in female Coppery, quite distinctive.
108
Coppery Dancer pair—Tamaulipas, Mexico, November 2006, Marion Dobbs
Natural History Pairs oviposit in live vegetation or dead leaves in riffles.
Habitat Open rocky streams with good current; also on forested streams in tropical part of range.
Flight Season TX Apr–Nov.
Distribution Ranges south in lowlands of Mexico to Chiapas.
109 Fiery-eyed Dancer Argia oenea TL 33–39, HW 20–24
Description Red-eyed, copper-backed, mostly blue dancer of rocky southwestern streams. Postocular spots small, well separated, and often obscure. Male: Eyes bright red in front, blackish over pale greenish behind. Thorax coppery-red on front and blue to violet on sides. S2 with side stripe expanded at rear; S3–6 blue to violet with black at rear of segments increasing rearward and filling most of S6 and almost all of S7; S8–10 entirely blue/violet with black stripe low down on side. Female: Polymorphic, pale color mostly light tan or light blue to gray. Eyes brown, reddish in front. Thorax with wide median and wide, deeply forked humeral stripes metallic dark red. S2–9 black-striped, stripes fusing across middle on S7; also ventrolateral stripes on S8–9, creating striped look from sides.
109
Fiery-eyed Dancer male—Sonora, Mexico, September 2006, Netta Smith; blue female—Sonora, Mexico, August 2006, Netta Smith
Identification Although varying from blue to violet, nothing else in range like male. Might be found to overlap with Coppery Dancer, another red-eyed species with copper thorax, which occurs to east in Texas Hill Country and has abdomen mostly black with blue tip. Female Fiery-eyed differs from Coppery in having largely divided humeral stripe. Female much as female Dusky and Tezpi Dancers, with small postocular spots, divided humeral stripe, and conspicuously striped abdomen tip. Blue female Fiery-eyed easily distinguished by coppery thorax and reddish eyes, but brown females more similar to other two. Stripes on abdomen tip extend to S10 in Dusky, not in Fiery-eyed or Tezpi. Also, Dusky has humeral stripe split for almost entire length (Fiery-eyed slightly more than half length) and narrow but obvious dark stripe behind humeral stripe (lacking in Fiery-eyed). Andromorph Tezpi lacks reddish head and thorax of andromorph Fiery-eyed, but brown heteromorphs quite similar; brownish wings of Tezpi then distinctive.
Natural History Males typically perch on rocks in riffles, where tandem pairs also often seen. Pairs oviposit in live (herbaceous plants) or dead (floating leaves and stems) vegetation at water level, female sometimes submerging entirely.
Habitat Shallow, rocky streams and rivers. Very often with Tezpi Dancer.
Flight Season AZ May–Nov, NM May, TX May–Sep.
Distribution Ranges south in lowlands to Colombia.
This family of forest-stream-dwelling damselflies occurs in the American and Asian tropics. Wings are narrow as in pond damsels and threadtails, and abdomen is usually long and slender. Most species live in dense forest and probably have poor powers of dispersal, as there are many species with small ranges and many known from only a single locality. Many undescribed species are in collections. World 199, NA 1, West 1.
Ranging from Arizona to Peru and French Guiana, this genus is most diverse in southern Central America. Often difficult to find in deep forest shade, some species are easiest to locate when one gets down on hands and knees and crawls through the shrubbery along a tiny trickle of water. Often they are found in places where nets cannot be swung but are captured by hand easily. They are the size of large pond damsels, with blue on thorax and usually abdomen tip; a few are entirely black. Prothorax is prominently large, legs long; male cerci are forceps-like, unlike most pond damsels. World 42, NA 1, West 1.
110 Desert Shadowdamsel Palaemnema domina TL 35–44, HW 19–24
Description Moderate-sized slender damselfly of shaded areas with black and blue thorax and blue abdomen tip. Male: Eyes dark brown above, dull yellowish below. Prothorax entirely blue, conspicuous. Thorax blue with black stripes, a wide median stripe, narrower humeral stripe, and lower side stripe. Abdomen brown with black terminal ring on S2–7, white to pale blue basal ring on S3–7; S8–9 blue, S10 black. Female: Colored as male, but blue on thorax duller and slightly less extensive; only S9 blue, abdomen tip abruptly enlarged.
110
Desert Shadowdamsel male—Graham Co., AZ, August 2007; female—Sonora, Mexico, July 2003, Netta Smith
Identification Easily distinguished from similarly colored POND DAMSELS by relatively longer abdomen with narrow pale ring at base of each abdominal segment. POND DAMSELS with similar coloration all have some blue at abdomen base, Desert Shadowdamsel only on thorax and abdomen tip. POND DAMSELS with mostly black abdomens have either no rings or bright blue rings. Females easily distinguished from other similar-sized damselflies by bulbous abdomen tip. Large spot of blue at tip also eliminates female SPREADWINGS that might be perched with wings closed. Other damselflies not likely to hang up in dense woody thickets.
Natural History During sunny periods, adults perch, usually with abdomen hanging down, in dense woody thickets of root masses (often of fallen cottonwoods or sycamores) or branch tangles within a few dozen feet of stream, up to head height. Seem to aggregate in groups of both sexes, easily caught by hand in this situation. Roosting individuals open wings slowly, then clap them shut; significance of this very distinctive behavior unknown. Active at stream when cloudy and cooler, even raining. Pairs have been seen in Mexico on hot midday, however. Move around in tandem for lengthy periods, then female oviposits solo but (at least in closely related species) with male perching adjacent, presumably to guard her from other males. Tandem pairs often locally concentrated, perhaps attract one another. Probably oviposits in herbaceous plants in water as other shadowdamsels do.
Habitat Small, clear, rocky streams bordered by dense riparian vegetation.
Flight Season AZ Jul–Sep.
Distribution Ranges south in lowlands to Nicaragua.
This is a worldwide tropical family of mostly small and quite narrow-winged species. Wing venation is the most simple of all odonates. Generally abdomen is most slender of all odonates, thus the common name; the family is also called “pinflies” elsewhere. Males are often highly colorful, with red, orange, yellow, or blue thorax and/or abdomen. In many species, only the thorax is colored, a slender black abdomen is difficult to see, and males look like spots of color moving over water. Some are entirely dark-colored, almost impossible to see. Note that robust threadtails are rather different from other members of this family. Typically they are found over streams and rivers or edges of large lakes, a very few on ponds. World 259, NA 3, West 3.
These are small damselflies, thicker-bodied than slender threadtails Protoneura, thus similar in size and shape to typical pond damsels such as bluets and forktails (in fact, it has been suggested that they actually are pond damsels with reduced wing venation). Males of most species are brightly colored, females much duller. Males and tandem pairs hover over quiet water, sometimes well away from shore, or perch on overhanging leaf tips at shoreline. Pairs oviposit on top of floating wood chips or plant stems, with male supported by female. Look for them in eddies behind fallen logs or other objects that interrupt water flow. Females are shorter-bodied than Protoneura and do not bend the abdomen sharply to wedge it between wings when ovipositing. They are entirely neotropical, from Texas to Argentina and in Cuba. World 28, NA 2, West 2.
111 Amelia’s Threadtail Neoneura amelia TL 29–35, HW 16–18
Description Small, slender, red-bodied, mostly dark-tailed damselfly of south Texas. Male: Eyes orange-brown, head scarlet. Thorax bright scarlet in front, dull orange on sides, with narrow black median line. Abdomen dark brown with faintly indicated apical black and basal whitish rings; S1–3 mostly red-orange. Female: Quite different, pale tan all over with black dots and dashes on head and thorax and darker rings on abdomen.
Identification Compare with Coral-fronted and Orange-striped Threadtails. Bright color much more obvious in hovering males than in Coral-fronted, which look dark. Females very similar, but Amelia’s a bit more tinged with orange, especially on head, than Coral-fronted; easily seen in comparison. Female differs from most other brown female damselflies by lack of stripes on thorax.
Natural History See genus account. Males more often seen hovering out over water than perched but often perch in shrubs, sheltered from above by foliage. Females rarely seen except in pairs. Pairs oviposit in floating detritus, sometimes several species of threadtails together with various dancers. Oviposition peaks at midday, then declines.
Habitat Quiet backwaters at edges of rivers, pools in streams, and large ponds, often muddy. Together with Coral-fronted on Lower Rio Grande.
Flight Season TX Apr–Dec.
Distribution Ranges south in lowlands to Panama.
111
Amelia’s Threadtail pair—Zapata Co., TX, June 2005; male—Sonora, Mexico August 2006
112 Coral-fronted Threadtail Neoneura aaroni TL 30–34, HW 16–19
Description Small, slender Texas damselfly with red on head and thorax. Male: Eyes dark red-orange, head mostly red. Thorax bright coral-red in front, dark bluish-gray on sides. Abdomen black, but gray pruinosity develops with age and can produce bluish individuals. Female: Quite different, eyes light brown, pale tan all over with black dots and dashes on head and thorax and faintly darker rings on abdomen.
Identification Only species somewhat similar is Amelia’s Threadtail, which has much more red coloration. Amelia’s head and thorax look red at a distance, Coral-fronted black or bluish-gray with bit of red. Females very similar, distinguished best by structure of prothorax in hand, but Coral-fronted does not show slight orange tinge of Amelia’s. Female Amelia’s has lobes projecting at either end of rear margin of prothorax that Coral-fronted lacks, should be visible under magnification. Other red damselflies (Desert Firetail, Orange-striped Threadtail, Western Red Damsel) are all red. Western Red Damsel not in range of threadtails. Female Desert Firetail, likely to occur with threadtails, has narrow black stripes between eyes and down front of thorax, no dusky rings on abdomen, shorter body, and not usually in same habitat. Female Neoneura easily distinguished from all other female damselflies by black dashed line down either side of carina of thorax.
Natural History See genus account. Males have been seen hovering as high as 15 feet above stream, even with top of high bank. Large numbers sometimes seen with all individuals facing light breeze, whether upstream or down. Can be very difficult to distinguish from water surface, so watch for motion. Pairs or sometimes lone females oviposit in floating wood, often in dense groups.
112
Coral-fronted Threadtail pairs—Zapata Co., TX, June 2005
Habitat Slow-flowing hill streams and rivers, more rarely lowland rivers, even Rio Grande.
Flight Season TX May–Sep.
Distribution Also known from Nuevo León in Mexico; Guatemalan literature record probably in error.
Robust Threadtails - female prothorax
These neotropical damselflies are much more slender and elongate than robust threadtails. Males often are brilliantly colored with red, orange, yellow, purple, or blue; females are duller than males but brighter than female Neoneura. Pairs oviposit in floating detritus, and abundance of some species may be related to the presence of such detritus. They also use live plants, however, and females can also oviposit alone. In all of these very slender species, the female oviposits with her abdomen sharply bent at end of third and fourth segments with sixth segment wedged between wings, bringing ovipositor close behind thorax, where she can guide it more effectively. The male is conspicuous sticking up from female, usually whirring wings, which may help support him. This action may also move the pair and its floating substrate over the water surface! Entirely neotropical, from Texas to Brazil and in West Indies. World 21, NA 1, West 1.
Description Medium-small slender damselfly with tan- or orange-striped thorax, dark abdomen with white rings. Male: Eyes dark red, thorax vivid orange and black striped, legs and first two abdominal segments largely orange; abdomen black with well-defined but narrow white rings. Female: Eyes and thorax much duller and paler, little or no orange on abdomen, and abdomen conspicuously thickened toward tip.
Identification Nothing else like it in North America. ROBUST THREADTAILS shorter and thicker, Amelia’s with redder head and thorax with very little black and extensive orange on abdomen base, Coral-fronted with red only on front of thorax. Superficially similar Orange Bluet has sides of thorax orange without black stripes and S9 entirely orange, more conspicuous than touch of orange in threadtail. Female with overall darker thorax than Orange Bluet, little or no orange at end of abdomen. More similar to female Burgundy Bluet; latter smaller, probably no overlap in range with threadtail. Female threadtail has pale antehumeral stripe partially split, not the case in BLUETS. Threadtail abdomen slender at base, looks more swollen than other damselflies when full of eggs.
Natural History See genus account. Males spend much of their time hovering just above water but also perch on slender stems; may slowly rise into trees when disturbed. Occasional aggregations of males have been seen hovering well above head height in sunny clearings near water in what may have been mating swarms, as tandem formation was seen when females entered swarm. Flying individuals often very difficult to see against dark water, often look like nothing more than orange dot (thus very effectively camouflaged from odonate predators). Pairs may hover for long periods (greater than a minute), then oviposit in any sort of floating detritus, even tiny wood chips barely large enough to hold them. Typically concentrate where currents concentrate detritus but also lay eggs in grass stems and rootlets of woody plants near shore.
113.1
Orange-striped Threadtail male—Sonora, Mexico, September 2006, Netta Smith; female—Kerr Co., TX, September 2000, Robert A. Behrstock
113.2
Orange-striped Threadtail pair—Sonora, Mexico, September 2006, Netta Smith
Habitat Small, clear streams with sand bottoms in woodland or open.
Flight Season TX Jun–Oct.
Distribution Ranges south in lowlands to Nicaragua.
