| Aztec dancer | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Coenagrionidae |
| Genus: | Argia |
| Species: | A. nahuana |
| Binomial name | |
| Argia nahuana | |
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| Range of A. nahuana [2] [3] | |
The Aztec dancer (Argia nahuana) damselfly is one of the pond damsels. Common name originates from the Aztecs, and scientific names comes from the Nahuas. [4]
The dark black stripe on the side of the thorax is forked from front to back. Other field marks include blue postocular spots, pale blue legs with a black stripe, and a blue ring on the seventh segment of the abdomen. [3] Can be differentiated from similar subspecies by the larger width of the stripe down its mid dorsal thorax, and medial orientation of the cercus lobe. [5] Additionally, the forewing contains four quadrangular cells and the hindwing has three. [6] Females look similar to males with the exception of their mainly light brown coloring as opposed to the males' bright blue. [6]
Other dancers share many physical traits with the Aztec dancer, and often occupy similar regions. Most commonly confused with Argia nahuana are Argia agrioides, Argia leonorae, Argia fumipennis, and Argia hinei. [5] Aztec dancers were originally considered a variation of California dancers ( Argia agrioides), until declared its own species in 1958. [6]
Aztec dancers are most common in the Southwest, including many parts of Mexico and states like California, Arizona, Texas, and Kansas. [6] They reside in clear water streams with shallow water, high sun exposure, and minimal vegetation lining the water. [6]
First recorded sighting was in 1894. Between then and 1975, 115 sightings were reported, as compared to the post-1980 count of 35 sightings. [7]
Argia is a genus of damselflies of the family Coenagrionidae and of the subfamily Argiinae. It is a diverse genus which contains about 114 species and many more to be described. It is also the largest genus in Argiinae. They are found in the Western Hemisphere. They are commonly known as dancers. Although the genus name comes from Ancient Greek: ἀργία, romanized: argia, lit. 'laziness', dancers are quite active and alert damselflies. The bluer Argia species may be confused with Enallagma species.
Acisoma panorpoides, the Asian pintail, trumpet tail, or grizzled pintail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.
Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as forktails in the family Coenagrionidae. Forktails are distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection at the tip of the abdomen which gives the group their common name.
The blue riverdamsel, Pseudagrion microcephalum is a common species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is also known as the blue sprite and blue grass dart.
The powdered dancer is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to North America. It may be seen year-round in at least some of its range.
The springwater dancer is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae.
Esme longistyla is damselfly in the family Platycnemididae. It is commonly known as the Nilgiri bambootail. It is endemic to Western Ghats in India.
Eastern forktail is a member of the damselfly family Coenagrionidae.
Lestes praemorsus is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is commonly known as the scalloped spreadwing or sapphire-eyed spreadwing. It is very widely distributed from India to China and south to New Guinea.
Chalcolestes viridis, formerly Lestes viridis, is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. Its common name is the willow emerald damselfly, the green emerald damselfly, or the western willow spreadwing. It has an elongated abdomen and pale brown spots on its wings and resides in areas of still water with overhanging trees.
The black stream glider, also known as the indigo dropwing is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is a very widespread species, occurring from Greece, Cyprus and Turkey, throughout Asia to New Guinea.
Lestes elatus is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. It is known commonly as the emerald spreadwing. It is native to India, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Amphiallagma parvum, little blue or azure dartlet, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. This species can be found in many South Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, and probably in Bangladesh.
The blue corporal, also known as little corporal, is a dragonfly in the Libellulidae, or skimmer family. First described as Libellula deplanata by Jules Pierre Rambur in 1842, it is common across much of the eastern United States.
Pseudagrion indicum, yellow-striped blue dart or yellow-striped dart, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found only in Western Ghats of India.
Caconeura ramburi is a damselfly species in the family Platycnemididae. It is commonly known as the Coorg Bambootail or Indian blue bambootail. It is endemic to Western Ghats.
Caconeura gomphoides is a damselfly species in the family Platycnemididae. It is endemic to high altitude peat bogs and grassy uplands in Nilgiris.
Esme mudiensis is a damselfly in the family Platycnemididae. It is commonly known as the Travancore bambootail. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in India, particularly south of Palakkad Gap.
Esme cyaneovittata is damselfly in the family Platycnemididae. It is endemic to Western Ghats in India, south of Palakkad Gap.
Protosticta mortoni, is a damselfly species in the family Platystictidae. It is endemic to Western Ghats in India.