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Dancers

Dancers

genus: Argia

Dancers

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.

Some 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 at an angle slightly above the abdomen.

This genus is mostly stream dwellers, but will frequent rivers, ponds and lakes.

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