Blue dasher

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Blue dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Dasher 1500px.jpg
Male with raised abdomen that may be a threat display or a response to heat (the obelisk posture)
Dragonfly ran-177.jpg
Female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Pachydiplax
Brauer, 1868
Species:
P. longipennis
Binomial name
Pachydiplax longipennis
(Burmeister, 1839)

The blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is an insect of the skimmer family. It is the only species in the genus Pachydiplax. It is very common and widely distributed through North America and into the Bahamas. [2]

Contents

Although the species name longipennis means "long wings", their wings are not substantially longer than those of related species. Females do, however, have a short abdomen that makes the wings appear longer in comparison. [2] The blue dasher grows up to 25–43 millimetres (0.98–1.69 in) long.

The males are easy to recognize with their vibrant blue color, yellow-striped thorax, and metallic green eyes. Females are somewhat less colorful than the male, an example of sexual dimorphism. While they have a matching yellow-striped thorax, their abdomen has a distinct brown and yellow striping that sets them apart from the male, along with contrasting red eyes. Both sexes develop a frosted color with age. [3]

Pachydiplax longipennis exhibits aggression while finding mates and foraging, [4] [5] and they are not under any conservation threats. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Pachydiplax longipennis is a commonly spotted dragonfly species in the United States, and this species is found in many types of habitats. These habitats generally consist of some kind of body of water, like a stream, river, or lake. [6] This species has now been spotted in lower portions of Canada (Ottawa), and it is suggested that climate change is allowing for a broadening of this species’ distribution. [7]

Dispersal

Dispersal of this species is linked to territorial behavior. Males of this species exhibit extreme territorial behavior, often leading to repercussions for smaller males. Smaller males tend to be driven away from breeding grounds by larger males, resulting in these smaller males dispersing to other areas. Researchers believe that this method of dispersal could be important in further studies of population genetics and gene flow of this species. [4] Wing coloration also varies with the range of this species, indicating that dispersal location and wing coloration are connected. Populations of P. longipennis occurring in more hot regions tend to lack the darker wing coloration present in populations in cooler regions. This darker wing coloration can help with thermoregulation, flight performance, and territory securement. Thus, temperature has a large effect on the evolution of this species’ wing coloration across its dispersal range. [8]

Habitat

Blue dashers live near still, calm bodies of water, such as ponds, marshes, slow-moving waterways, and ditches, in warm areas typically at low elevations. The adults roost in trees at night. [3]

Diet and feeding

These dragonflies, like others of their infraorder, are carnivorous, and are capable of eating hundreds of insects every day, including mosquito and mayfly larvae. The adult dragonfly will eat nearly any flying insect, such as a moth or fly. Nymphs have a diet that includes other aquatic larvae, small fish, and tadpoles. [9] These dragonflies are known to be voracious predators, consuming up to 10% of their body weight each day in food. [3]

The blue dasher hunts by keeping still and waiting for suitable prey to come within range. When it does, they dart from their position to catch it. [10]

The foraging behavior of this dragonfly is influenced by different factors, such as external temperature, prey availability, and perch position. P. longipennis tends to forage on small prey, which differs from the unselective foraging behavior of other Odonata species. This species also moves to different foraging sites frequently, meaning they do not stay put in one place too long searching for food. [11] P. longipennis also exhibits aggressive behavior when foraging for food. Both males and females take part in this aggression when looking for prey. P. longipennis will engage in this behavior towards individuals of the same species and individuals of other species, but males tend to fight (and win) more often than females. Researchers suggest that the more successful an individual is using aggression, then the more likely they will gain a better perch and thus increase their chance to find prey. [5]

Life history

Pachydiplax longipennis larvae exhibit asynchronous emergence, meaning that the larvae do not emerge at the same time as one another. Based on general time of emergence, this species is still classified as a summer species. [12] The larvae of this species often vary greatly in regard to size due to generational overlap of groups. This generational overlap is created by some groups producing one brood and other groups producing two broods in a breeding season. [13] The timing of P. longipennis larvae emergence has also been linked to the presence of its predator, Anax junius . Research has shown that if larvae are in their peak physical state, then they have a higher likelihood of emerging in the presence of their predator, as opposed to weaker larvae likely emerging in the absence of the predator. Cannibalism also poses a threat, and the stronger larvae emerge earlier when this threat is high. [14]

Conservation and global warming

This species is at a low vulnerability in regard to conservation. [6] However, P. longipennis and all other dragonflies are indicators of a healthy ecosystem. As wetlands and other various habitats for dragonflies decrease due to habitat destruction, so do the populations of dragonflies. Therefore, dragonflies are at the forefront of conservation movements. [15]

In regard to global warming, studies have shown that increasing temperature has an effect on larvae emergence time and survival. Larvae under the conditions predicted for 100 years in the future emerge significantly earlier, and their survival rate is much lower, indicating possible effects of global warming on this dragonfly. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odonata</span> Order of insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies

Odonata is an order of predatory flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies. The two groups are distinguished with dragonflies usually being bulkier with large compound eyes together and wings spread up or out at rest, while damselflies are usually more slender with eyes placed apart and wings folded together along body at rest. Adult odonates can land, but rarely walk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragonfly</span> Predatory winged insects

A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threatens dragonfly populations around the world. Adult dragonflies are characterized by a pair of large, multifaceted, compound eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damselfly</span> Suborder of insects

Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body. Damselflies have existed since the Jurassic, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.

<i>Gonepteryx rhamni</i> Species of butterfly

Gonepteryx rhamni, commonly named the common brimstone, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It lives throughout the Palearctic zone and is commonly found across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Across much of its range, it is the only species of its genus, and is therefore simply known locally as the brimstone. Its wing span size is 60–74 mm (2.4–2.9 in). It should not be confused with the brimstone moth Opisthograptis luteolata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green darner</span> Species of dragonfly

The green darner or common green darner, after its resemblance to a darning needle, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America, it also ranges south to Panama. It is well known for its great migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. It also occurs in the Caribbean, Tahiti, and Asia from Japan to mainland China. It is the official insect for the state of Washington in the United States.

<i>Enallagma cyathigerum</i> Species of damselfly

Enallagma cyathigerum is a species found mainly between latitudes 40°N and 72°N; It is widely distributed in the Palearctic, and the Nearctic species Enallagma annexum was at one time considered to be synonymous with it. The species can reach a length of 32 to 35 mm. It is common in many different countries including Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the United States of America, and South Korea. Damselflies are an important link between the health of the aquatic ecosystem and its response to climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hine's emerald</span> Species of dragonfly

The Hine's emerald is an endangered dragonfly species found in the United States and Canada. Populations exist in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ontario, and Wisconsin. Larvae are found in shallow, flowing water in fens and marshes, and often use crayfish burrows. Major threats to the species include habitat loss and alteration, and the species is legally protected in both the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordulegastridae</span> Family of dragonflies

The Cordulegastridae are a family of Odonata (dragonflies) from the suborder Anisoptera. They are commonly known as spiketails. Some vernacular names for the species of this family are biddie and flying adder. They have large, brown or black bodies with yellow markings, and narrow unpatterned wings. Their bright eyes touch at a single point, and they can be found along small, clear, woodland streams, flying slowly 30 to 70 cm above the water. When disturbed, however, they can fly very rapidly. They usually hunt high in forest vegetation, and prefer to capture prey resting on leaves or branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pruinescence</span>

Pruinescence, or pruinosity, is a "frosted" or dusty-looking coating on top of a surface. It may also be called a pruina, from the Latin word for hoarfrost. The adjectival form is pruinose.

The obelisk posture is a handstand-like position that some dragonflies and damselflies assume to prevent overheating on sunny days. The abdomen is raised until its tip points at the sun, minimizing the surface area exposed to solar radiation. When the sun is close to directly overhead, the vertical alignment of the insect's body suggests an obelisk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudostigmatidae</span> Family of damselflies

The Pseudostigmatidae are a family of tropical damselflies, known as helicopter damselflies, giant damselflies, or forest giants. The family includes the largest of all damselfly species. They specialize in preying on web-building spiders, and breed in phytotelmata, the small bodies of water held by plants such as bromeliads.

<i>Megaloprepus caerulatus</i> Species of damselfly

Megaloprepus caerulatus, also known as the blue-winged helicopter, is a forest giant damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. Forest giant damselflies were previously recognized as their own family, Pseudostigmatidae. M. caerulatus is found in wet and moist forests in Central and South America. It has the greatest wingspan of any living damselfly or dragonfly, up to 19 centimeters (7.5 inches) in the largest males. Its large size and the markings on its wings make it a conspicuous species; a hovering Megaloprepus has been described as a "pulsating blue-and-white beacon".

<i>Papilio xuthus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio xuthus, the Asian swallowtail, Chinese yellow swallowtail or Xuthus swallowtail, is a yellow-colored, medium to large sized swallowtail butterfly found in northeast Asia, northern Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Siberia and the Hawaiian Islands. It was also recorded in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India, in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-faced darter</span> Species of dragonfly

The white-faced darter or small whiteface is a dragonfly belonging to the genus Leucorrhinia in the family Libellulidae, characterised by red and black markings and a distinctive white patch on the head. It is found in wetlands and peat bogs from northern Europe eastwards to Siberia, and the adults are active from around April till September, which is known as the "flight period". It breeds in acidic bodies of water, laying its eggs in clumps of sphagnum moss that provide a safe habitat for larval development. The larvae are particularly vulnerable to predation by fish, and so are usually found in lakes where fish are not present. L. dubia is listed as a species of least concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List, however, it is potentially threatened by habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.

<i>Eriogaster lanestris</i> Species of moth

Eriogaster lanestris, commonly known as the small eggar, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae that is found across the Palearctic. Unlike many other members of the Lasiocampidae, the small eggar is a social insect. Historically, only eusocial insects like ants, bees, and termites were thought to exhibit complex social organization and communication systems. However, research since the late 20th century has found that E. lanestris, among a number of other phylogenetically related moth and butterfly species, demonstrates social behaviors as well. Larvae spend nearly their entire development in colonies of about 200 individuals, and this grouped social structure offers a number of benefits, from thermoregulation to increased foraging success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madrone butterfly</span> Species of butterfly

Eucheira socialis, commonly known as the Madrone butterfly is a lepidopteran that belongs to the family Pieridae. It was first described by John O. Westwood in 1834. Locally known as Mariposa del madroño or tzauhquiocuilin, it is endemic to the highlands of Mexico, and exclusively relies on the Madrone as a host-plant. The species is of considerable interest to lepidopterists due to gregarious nest-building in the larval stages, and heavily male-biased sex ratio. It takes an entire year for this adult butterfly to develop from an egg. The eggs are laid in the month of June and the adults emerge the following May–June. The adults have a black and white pattern on their wings, and the males are generally much smaller and paler than the females. The larvae do not undergo diapause and continue to feed and grow communally in the coldest months of the year. There are two subspecies of E. socialis, named E. socialis socialis and E. socialis westwoodi.

<i>Austrolestes colensonis</i> Species of damselfly

Austrolestes colensonis, commonly known as the blue damselfly, is a species of damselfly of the family Lestidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can commonly be found throughout the country, and at any time of the year. It is New Zealand's largest damselfly, and only blue odonate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue corporal</span> Species of dragonfly

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.

<i>Argia vivida</i> Species of damselfly

Argia vivida, the vivid dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. This species is commonly found in springs and forests Central America and North America. Argia vivida inhabit areas of diverse temperatures due to thermoregulation. The species is also considered the state insect of Nevada.

<i>Tetracanthagyna plagiata</i> Species of dragonfly

The giant hawker or the gigantic riverhawker, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found throughout Sundaland, having been recorded on Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, and Borneo. It is the type species for the genus Tetracanthagyna.

References

  1. Paulson, D.R. (2018). "Pachydiplax longipennis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T51279390A65836579. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T51279390A65836579.en . Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 James G. Needham; Minter J. Westfall, Jr.; Michael L. May (2000). Dragonflies of North America (rev. ed.). Gainesville, FL: Scientific Publishers. pp. 762–763. ISBN   0-945417-94-2.
  3. 1 2 3 "Blue Dasher". Odonata Central. The University of Alabama Museums Research and Collections. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 McCauley, Shannon J. (2010). "Body size and social dominance influence breeding dispersal in male Pachydiplax longipennis (Odonata)". Ecological Entomology. 35 (3): 377–385. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.2010.01191.x. ISSN   1365-2311. S2CID   3965494.
  5. 1 2 Baird, Joel M.; May, Michael L. (2003-03-01). "Fights at the Dinner Table: Agonistic Behavior in Pachydiplax longipennis (Odonata: Libellulidae) at Feeding Sites". Journal of Insect Behavior. 16 (2): 189–216. doi:10.1023/A:1023963717997. ISSN   1572-8889. S2CID   43097439.
  6. 1 2 3 White, E. L., Hunt, P. D., Schlesinger, M. D., Corser, J. D., & deMaynadier, P. G. (2014). A conservation status assessment of Odonata for the northeastern United States. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany.
  7. Catling, Paul M. (2016-04-01). "Climate Warming as an Explanation for the Recent Northward Range Extension of Two Dragonflies, Pachydiplax longipennis and Perithemis tenera, into the Ottawa Valley, Eastern Ontario". The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 130 (2): 122–132. doi: 10.22621/cfn.v130i2.1846 . ISSN   0008-3550.
  8. Moore, Michael P.; Lis, Cassandra; Gherghel, Iulian; Martin, Ryan A. (April 2019). Grether, Greg (ed.). "Temperature shapes the costs, benefits and geographic diversification of sexual coloration in a dragonfly". Ecology Letters. 22 (3): 437–446. doi:10.1111/ele.13200. PMID   30616297. S2CID   58632317.
  9. "Blue Dasher". imnh.isu.edu. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  10. Zevit, Pamela; Lilley, Patrick (March 2011). "BC's Coast Region: Species & Ecosystems of Conservation Concern, Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)" (PDF). South Coast Conservation Program. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-02 via Biodiversity of BC.
  11. Baird, Joel M.; May, Michael L. (1997-09-01). "Foraging behavior of Pachydiplax longipennis (Odonata: Libellulidae)". Journal of Insect Behavior. 10 (5): 655–678. doi:10.1007/BF02765385. ISSN   1572-8889. S2CID   34203039.
  12. Benke, Arthur C.; Benke, Susan S. (1975). "Comparative Dynamics and Life Histories of Coexisting Dragonfly Populations". Ecology. 56 (2): 302–317. doi:10.2307/1934962. ISSN   1939-9170. JSTOR   1934962.
  13. Wissinger, Scott A. (1988-03-01). "Life History and Size Structure of Larval Dragonfly Populations". Journal of the North American Benthological Society. 7 (1): 13–28. doi:10.2307/1467827. ISSN   0887-3593. JSTOR   1467827. S2CID   84596206.
  14. Moore, Michael P.; Lis, Cassandra; Martin, Ryan A. (2018). "Larval body condition regulates predator-induced life-history variation in a dragonfly". Ecology. 99 (1): 224–230. doi:10.1002/ecy.2056. ISSN   1939-9170. PMID   29068045.
  15. Pupke, Chris (2018-08-06). "Dragonflies - Important Environmental Indicators". Biophilia Foundation. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  16. McCauley, Shannon J.; Hammond, John I.; Frances, Dachin N.; Mabry, Karen E. (2015). "Effects of experimental warming on survival, phenology, and morphology of an aquatic insect (Odonata)". Ecological Entomology. 40 (3): 211–220. doi:10.1111/een.12175. ISSN   1365-2311. PMC   4443926 . PMID   26028806.

Citizen science observations for Blue dasher at iNaturalist