WEBIOCOSM ZOO
Last Updated August 26, 2006
Argia apicalis
Blue-fronted Dancer
This is a Damselfly I photographed a few months ago. It can easily be differentiated from a dragonfly by the fact that the wings of the damselfly narrow at the base whereas the dragonfly's wings do not. Also, damselflies hold their wings together or slightly divergent above the body when resting, while the wings of dragonflies project outward at right angles to the thorax. Both dragonflies and damselflies make up the order Odonata. Damselflies make up the suborder Zygoptera, and I believe that this specimen is a Narrow winged Damselfly from the family Coenagrionidae.
Check out the
Dragonflies of Texas for more information on damselflies and
dragonflies; and for the very best in Odonata blogging, visit the
Urban Dragon Hunters.
Later on
Nannothemis wrote in with
the full specification...
"Blue-form female of the Blue-fronted Dancer, Argia apicalis. Ubiquitous
over much of their range near moving water, especially quiet rivers."
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References
Genus:
Species:
Genus:
Argia
Species:
Argia apicalis