Dancers - Argia
Thirty species are
currently know to North America.
These are small to medium size damselflies. Dancers are similar in appearance to many other pond
damsels, especially the bluets. The males are typically colored in various
combinations of blue, lavender, and black. They have a bulkier
thorax than most other narrow-winged damsels.
Females are often a dull brown in
color, though in some
species a blue form female occurs.
Many can be identified
in the field by size and color pattern but others require in-hand
examination of the male terminal appendages.
Dancers are
generally found perched for long periods of time in sunny bare grassy
areas or on top of rocks or dirt roads near water. When perched,
they hold their wings together slightly above the abdomen.
They are mostly stream dwellers, but some will frequent
ponds and lakes.
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