Springwater dancer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Argia
Species:
A. plana
Binomial name
Argia plana
(Calvert, 1902) [1]
Range of A. plana [2]

The springwater dancer (Argia plana) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae.

Description

The springwater dancer has a black stripe along the side of its thorax. The male is typically blue, but some can be violet. The female is pale brown.[3]

Similar species

Its central range helps to distinguish it from the other blue damselflies with which it is easily confused, especially the similar looking vivid dancer. The Apache dancer is larger, but with an overall length of 34-40mm the springwater tends to be larger than the other similar blue dancers including the lavender dancer. The stripe on the side of the thorax is forked in the Aztec dancer and variable dancer.[3]

Etymology

The springwater dancer's preferred habitat of shallow springs is reflected in its common name. The scientific name, plana, means flat or wandering, but the significance is unknown.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Argia plana". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. ↑ "Distribution Viewer". OdonataCentral. Retrieved December 6, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Abbott, John C. (2005). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States. Princeton University Press. pp. 81–82. ISBN 0-691-11364-5.
  4. ↑ Paulson, Dennis R; Dunkle, Sidney W (14 April 2009). "A Checklist of North American Odonata": 12. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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